Port gun to fight umpire abuse charge at tribunal

Port Adelaide will defend Zak Butters to the hilt at the AFL tribunal after he was accused of asking umpire Nick Foot "how much are they paying you?"

The star Power midfielder was referred directly to the tribunal on a charge of abusive and insulting language towards an umpire.

Tempers flared in the third quarter at Adelaide Oval on Sunday night when St Kilda's Mitch Owens was given a free kick for a ruck infringement.

Port's Ollie Wines took issue with the decision, as did Butters, who was penalised 50m and reported for abusive language as Owens goaled from close range.

The AFL said the exchange between Butters, a two-time All-Australian midfielder, and Foot, who officiated in the 2024 grand final, was not picked up by the umpire's microphone.

That means Tuesday's hearing will come down to testimony from Butters and Foot and any witnesses who are called. Port have confirmed that Wines will provide a witness statement backing Butters, who was acting captain.

Asked post-match about the incident, Butters told the Seven Network: "I know what I said, and I didn't say anything bad.

"I'd love to know the language that I said because I went up to him (Foot) after the game and obviously wanted to have a chat, like two humans do, and he said he didn't want to speak to me.

"All I said (at the time of the incident) was: 'How is that a free kick?' And he gave a 50 and said I was on report.

"I am curious to follow that one up because I am never going to say anything bad to the umpire."

After the AFL confirmed the tribunal hearing, Port released a statement supporting Butters.

"Port Adelaide will defend in the strongest possible way the allegations made by AFL umpire Nick Foot against Butters," the club said.

"Port Adelaide believes the words used by Butters were misheard and misconstrued from what was actually said.

"Acting club captain Butters is unambiguously adamant on what was said and the club strongly supports him and his position.

"Port Adelaide is also disappointed that umpire Foot dismissively refused Butters' attempt to seek clarification post-game, as captain of the club."

Should Butters be found guilty, he's likely to face yet another fine. He has reached the $50,000 mark in financial sanctions since making his debut in 2019.

St Kilda forward Liam Ryan was docked $1500 last year for verbally abusing an umpire, when playing for West Coast.

In 2019, former Collingwood and Carlton player Dale Thomas was sanctioned $7500 for calling an umpire a cheat, and Sydney veteran Dane Rampe was slapped with a $5000 fine for telling an umpire he talked "like a little girl".

St Kilda ruck Tom De Koning can accept a $1000 fine for staging.

Geelong midfielder Mark O'Connor was slapped with a one-match ban for a high bump on West Coast youngster Willem Duursma in the second quarter of the Cats' win at Norwood Oval.

Unless the Cats take the case to the tribunal and win, O'Connor will miss Geelong's Friday night home clash against the fourth-placed Western Bulldogs.