Zak Butters’ coach calls him a “tough, brave, little prick”.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley can consider no larger reward for Butters after his game-turning exploits within the Power’s four-point win over Melbourne.
Hinkley is at all times at pains to not individualise.
But he concedes Butters’ efficiency – a career-high 41 disposals, two targets, a dozen rating involvements, eight inside 50s, 9 clearances – warrants singling out.
“Zak’s game deserves a little bit of that,” Hinkley mentioned after Port’s 11.14 (80) to 11.10 (76) triumph on Friday night time.
“I am not sure there’s too many better games you will see from a little fella who is a tough, brave little prick who takes big moments and turns them into something special.
“Zak cannot try this with out the workforce – that’s actually, actually vital.
“But the the team needs some people to stand up at crucial moments and there was a number of those.”
Butters gathered 23 touches within the first half to assist in giving Port the ascendancy.
And when the Demons charged of their seven-goal third time period to take the lead, Butters kicked two of Port’s three majors to rally the house aspect.
The 22-year-old did so sporting the Power’s No.9 guernsey, made well-known by the legendary Robbie Gray – a triple membership champion and four-time All Australian.
Gray retired on the finish of final season and, in a big gesture, gave his cherished No.9 to Butters.
“Robbie knew who he was giving his jumper to, and it has been vindicated, hasn’t it?” Hinkley mentioned.
“He has handed it over to a pretty special player himself.”
Butters’ excellence iced one more slender victory for the Power.
Of their seven consecutive wins, 5 have been by 14 factors or much less.
“The key to that, the reason that we can do that, is that we just stick to a process which is quite simple,” Hinkley mentioned,
“We work hard, we pressure hard, and we try to halve as many balls as we possibly can and then we see what happens from there.”
Port’s newest stirring triumph got here with out key forwards Charlie Dixon (thigh) and Todd Marshall (concussion) – each are anticipated to be match for subsequent Sunday’s away sport in opposition to Richmond.
But the Power have recent harm issues with stalwarts Travis Boak (ribs) and Trent McKenzie (corked hamstring) each failing to complete the sport in opposition to the Demons.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
