Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters may have played his final game for the club after suffering a nasty ankle injury against St Kilda on Saturday.
On a day of carnage, the Power also lost to Mitch Georgiades to a concussion and Lachie Jones to a rib injury.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Zak Butters suffers nasty ankle injury
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But the big story is Butters, who limped off the field late in the third quarter after his ankle crumpled underneath him in a marking contest with Max Hall.
“That looks like a syndesmosis, he’s grabbing the wrong spot. The ankle isn’t supposed to go that way,” Gerard Healy said on Fox Footy.
Leigh Montagna added: “The superstar can hardly put any weight on that ankle. He’s been unbelievable leading the club this year. It’s been a game of carnage and that might be the biggest story of them all.”
Butters was able to walk off very slowly with the assistance of trainers, but was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the match.
Butters was shattered on the bench. Credit: Fox Footy
And with only six rounds left in the season, there are big doubts whether he will play again this year.
The 25-year-old looked a shattered man on the bench as the realisation set in that he may have played his final game for the club.
Boundary reporter Ben Dixon said it was a “sickening sight” to see Butters like that.
“He’s on the interchange now, he’s got the boot and sock off — he was in real trouble coming from the ground,” Dixon said.
“A huge story … he’ll take no further part.”
The free agent is expected to depart to the Power at the end of the season.
Zak Butters suffered a potentially serious ankle injury in Port Adelaide’s narrow loss to St Kilda. Credit: AAP
“It’s not looking good. The vision speaks for itself, so we’ll have to wait and see,” Port coach Josh Carr said after the match.
“We had a bit going on through the game.
“Zak had a great third quarter and you see the way that he plays – he never gives up.
“He probably didn’t need to get himself in that situation, but that’s just who he is.”
Meanwhile, the Power are counting the cost of a brutal afternoon with Georgiades going down in the second quarter after a brutal collision.
Georgiades and St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall had eyes only for the ball when they both collided mid-air in a marking contest.
“A massive collision. Two players are down. That was huge,” Leigh Montagna said in the commentary.
“That is as courageous as you will see from two players.”
Gerard Healy said: “Georgiades has had a bad couple of weeks in that area.”
Fortunately, Georgiades was able to get to his feet to leave the field, and was immediately taken for an HIA (Head Injury Assessment).
Port later confirmed that Georgiades would take no further part in the game.
St Kilda was off to a blistering start and had six goal lead at half-time, but Port Adelaide hit back in the third and trimmed the margin to single figures.
Despite only having two fit players on the bench, the Power kicked the first goal of the final quarter to reduce the margin to three points.
But the Saints were able to kick the next two goals to hold on for a 14-point victory.
It keeps the Saints (8-9) firmly in the finals mix ahead of a huge clash with Geelong next week, while Port (6-11) are left counting the cost of a tough afternoon.
St Kilda stars Bradley Hill (39 disposals) and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (32) continued their strong form, with Hugo Garcia (32), Marcus Windhager (27) and ruckman Rowan Marshall (29) also influential.
Captain Callum Wilkie had a career-high 34 disposals and 13 intercept possessions as the anchor in defence, while Cooper Sharman kicked three goals – all in the Saints’ dominant first term.
The hosts led by 18 points at quarter-time and doubled the advantage by the main break, before Jason Horne-Francis led Port’s fightback.
Horne-Francis was moved forward in Georgaides’ absence for the second half and kicked two of the Power’s six goals in the third term.
Jack Lukosius kept a ball in play to set up Joe Berry’s opening goal of the last quarter, but the Saints hit back with majors through Mitch Owens and Mason Wood to settle the contest.
Horne-Francis finished with 23 disposals, eight clearances and two goals, while Butters had 26 touches and five clearances despite sitting out the final quarter.
Power defender Aliir Aliir had a dozen intercepts and Corey Durdin kicked two goals.
St Kilda’s win came after coach Ross Lyon ruled his club out of the running for Brisbane star Lachie Neale’s signature in a pre-match radio interview.
Lyon, who coached Neale at Fremantle from 2012 to 2018, met with the 33-year-old last week, but indicated the Saints will prioritise retaining their existing younger talent.
