Port Adelaide star ZakButters hospitalised after AFL finals flop against Geelong Cats
Port Adelaide vice-captain Zak Butters was hospitalised after suffering a rib injury in his club’s qualifying-final capitulation to Geelong.
Butters was sent to hospital for precautionary scans after being substituted from the Power’s woeful 84-point loss on Thursday night at Adelaide Oval.
The extent of the dynamic midfielder’s injury is expected to be known later Friday as Port grapple with the fall-out of their finals flop.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Butters was crunched in a first-quarter tackle by Geelong’s Jack Bowes and had just eight disposals before being subbed out one minute into the third quarter.
The injury comes as Power coach Ken Hinkley rules out making mass changes to his team for their semi-final next weekend against the winner of Friday night’s elimination final between the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn.
Key forward Charlie Dixon copped Bronx cheers from the pro-Port crowd at Adelaide Oval when he touched the ball in the last quarter of his poor performance.
Dixon had just three possessions - the lowest tally of any player - and took only one mark and failed to kick a goal.
Hinkley said it was unfair to pinpoint only Dixon as a Port passenger.
Dixon, who missed the last home-and-away game due to illness, was recalled as Hinkley overlooked fellow forward Todd Marshall, who has struggled with recent concussions but was available for the final.
“Don’t forget, Todd has played one game and a half of a game in eight weeks,” Hinkley said.
“We didn’t have Todd fit and firing and playing lots of football.
“We just didn’t have all the choices that you want in that space but it’s a wonderful thing, hindsight.
“You look back and reflect and think ‘could Todd have done a bit better?’
“But let’s not just talk about Charlie. Let’s talk about probably 18 of our players who we wish had played better.”
Hinkley said he would keep the faith in his players to respond from their horror qualifying-final loss.
“The group has been pretty consistent with what they’ve been able to do,” he said.
“And I’m going to trust that they can be as consistent again straight away next week.
“We can’t make wholesale changes at this time of the year.”
