Updated ,first published
In today’s AFL Briefing, your wrap of footy news:
- Zak Butters faces an abusive language charge, but remains adamant he did not say anything offensive to an umpire beyond questioning why a free kick was paid for a ruck infringement.
- Collingwood have rubbished suggestions their ageing squad has fallen off a cliff, with their skipper insisting a premiership run can be launched.
- Patrick Cripps insists he backs a costly decision that had him benched at a pivotal time against Adelaide, and has not ruled it out happening against the Magpies on Thursday night.
AFL umpire Nick Foot has alleged that he heard Port Adelaide star Zak Butters say “how much are they paying you?” before he paid a 50-metre penalty and reported him for abusive language.
Butters remains adamant he did not say anything offensive to Foot beyond questioning why a free kick was paid to the Saints’ Mitch Owens for a ruck infringement.
The dispute has led to the incident being referred directly to the tribunal as the microphones worn by the umpire did not pick up the exchange. Competition sources who wanted to remain anonymous said the umpiring fraternity believes the league should back the umpire in pursuing the charge.
The umpire paid a 50-metre penalty against Port Adelaide, which led to a St Kilda goal. The umpire can be heard telling Butters he had been reported for abusive language as they make their way back to the centre after Owens kicked the goal.
The technology is designed to assist umpires communicate with each other and pick up their instructions to players but does not always pick up what players say.
In the match review officer findings released by the AFL, the league said: “Zak Butters of Port Adelaide has been referred directly to the AFL Tribunal after being charged with Abusive and Insulting Language Towards an Umpire.
“Following the match day report during the Third Quarter of Sunday’s match, it is alleged that Butters said to Umpire Nick Foot ‘How much are they paying you?’
“The exchange was not picked up on the umpire’s microphone.”
Butters defended his conduct immediately after the game at Adelaide Oval.
“I’d love to know the language that I said because I went up to him after the game and obviously just to have a chat, like any two humans do,” Butters said post-match when interviewed by Channel 7.
“He said he didn’t want to speak to me. All I said was ‘How was that a free kick?’ He gave it 50, and said I’m on report.
“I had a few teammates right next to me. Ollie Wines. I’m curious to follow that one up because I’m never going to say anything bad to the umpire. I just want to follow up and ask what he thought I said from his end.
“(There were) genuinely no swear words, any bad language. That’s why I was curious and obviously a bit frustrated because it led to a goal.
“I feel like I’m a pretty honest bloke out there and have a good relationship with most umpires. I’m sure the club will deal with that.”
Wines has backed Butters’ version of events. The tribunal would not normally be convened to deal with such a matter which normally results in a fine, but Butters is adamant he wants to contest the charge.
Meanwhile, Geelong’s Mark O’Connor was offered a one-match suspension.
Magpies bristle over ‘silly’ fears of decline, as skipper insists flag tilt still possible
Jon Pierik
Collingwood star Darcy Cameron has dismissed fears the ageing Magpies have fallen off a cliff, as his captain declares a tilt at a premiership is still within reach, provided their scoring woes are fixed.
The Magpies have slipped to 13th on the ladder, having dropped their past two games, including managing just five goals in a low-scoring, six-point loss to Fremantle in the wet on Friday night when their limited options inside attacking 50 were exposed again.
They average just 69.6 points (16 less than 2025) and 10 goals per game this season – only winless Richmond are worse in each category.
This latest defeat prompted former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, now a commentator, to declare on SEN: “They’re not on the cliff, they’ve gone over the edge, and they’re just holding on with their fingernails.”
Cameron rubbished that suggestion on Monday, pointing to the Magpies’ finals runs under coach Craig McRae.
“The last four years, we have played in two prelims and a grand final [and a premiership], and still have the same personnel,” Cameron said at the annual Peter MacCallum Cup breakfast ahead of Thursday night’s clash against Carlton.
“I know some of those players might be getting a little bit older, but they’re still performing at a very high level. So, I think it is silly.”
Asked if the Magpies can turn around their season, Cameron was emphatic: “Definitely.”
Skipper Darcy Moore, on the mend from a hamstring strain but still without a set return date, was even more bullish.
“We probably, like I said before, have a bit of work to do. We certainly feel like we have got to develop as the season goes on. That is not necessarily a bad thing for us,” Moore said.
“We have got a lot of experience, we have got to find a new, updated version of ourselves constantly. We are definitely up for that, particularly on the offence side of the game. We are not quite putting up the score we want to.
“I think on the defensive side of the game we are still performing at a really, really high standard, and we look rock solid, and we can mix it with everyone.”
The Magpies go into Thursday night having won seven of their past eight games against Carlton. But they will be without Jordan De Goey, after the veteran midfielder was concussed against the Dockers, while star playmaker Nick Daicos continues to manage a corked calf.
The Magpies had 16 more inside-50s than the Dockers, adding to the frustration of defeat.
Small forward Jamie Elliott has only five goals in five games, while talls Tim Membrey and Dan McStay lack a consistent presence.
Cameron said the Magpies had failed to “lower our eyes and not be so predictable”, and defended Elliott’s lack of scoreboard impact.
“If you watch what he does, without ball in hand, he works so hard for our forward-line group. He creates opportunities for the bigs, and he’s probably the most selfless player on our team,” Cameron said.
The dynamic Bobby Hill has been missed, although he is training strongly, while the decision to let premiership forward Brody Mihocek depart for Melbourne has hurt.
Cameron revealed the midfielders and forwards had met after the loss to the Dockers and addressed any issues.
Coach Craig McRae bemoaned his team’s inability to handle key moments, including a pressure-packed final 10 minutes, which, as he said, his side “traditionally have been really good at”.
As training onlookers can attest, the Magpies regularly practise how to handle the final minutes of games, whether they are ahead or needing to score.
“Clearly, we want to kick more goals, and make the most of our chances. That is going to take a bit of work, but we are definitely up for it,” Moore said.
Cameron said the blockbuster between the arch rivals would bring out the best in the Magpies, with both teams prepared to “bash each other”.
‘Part of the plan’: Why Cripps backed contentious gamble in loss to Crows
Jon Pierik
Carlton captain Patrick Cripps has defended the contentious decision to start him on the bench in the second quarter against Adelaide, despite his absence hurting the Blues in what was to prove their fourth defeat of the season.
Cripps was back to his best in the first term against the Crows last Thursday, his 12 disposals, six clearances and five tackles helping the visiting Blues to seven goals.
But, in a mystifying decision, he was benched for the opening minutes of the second quarter, the Crows winning the first five clearances and booting three goals in three minutes to take control.
Cripps then rejoined the fray, but the Crows still booted another goal, a seven-point deficit soon becoming a 23-point lead, a pivotal burst in their 28-point win.
Speaking at the annual Peter MacCallum Cup breakfast on Monday ahead of the Thursday night clash against Collingwood, Cripps said he endorsed the decision made by coach Michael Voss.
“That’s just part of the plan, so the coaches put a plan together. We just back it in,” Cripps, who nursed a sore hand in the game, said.
Asked if he expected a repeat of such a call, Cripps replied: “I guess we will, but you’ll have to ask Vossy that. As players, I guess we are a team.
“They [coaches] put a plan together to try and help us win, so whatever they decide to do, we back it in. And we are sort of one group.
“As far as the coaches, we always support the decisions [they make].”
Former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley, now a commentator, told SEN on Saturday if the Blues had “put Patrick Cripps on the ground to start the second quarter they might have won …”
Voss had defended the decision, declaring it was part of Cripps’ typical rotations, while pointing out “there’s a midfield group that gets the job done”.
While the Blues were beaten, it was arguably their best performance of the season. They won overall clearances, centre clearances, and inside-50s, while finally winning a fourth term.
Having made the bold call to axe reigning best and fairest George Hewett, they had more players rotate through the midfield, although it was no surprise that Cripps and Sam Walsh, the latter despite a miserable second quarter of three disposals, were their most productive.
After a torrid month, the 16th-placed Blues, seemingly with a more attacking game plan, now prepare for a wounded Collingwood, but this great rivalry has been lop-sided in favour of the Magpies for years.
The Pies have won four straight over the past two years, and seven of the past eight.
The Blues hope Jacob Weitering (concussion) and Harry Dean (concussion and hip) return this week, and Weitering declared his team had time to improve.
“It’s pretty early doors at the moment, so we are still probably finding our feet. I guess what we can work on from an offensive point of view, especially in those second halves, and defensively we have things we can work on as well,” Weitering said.
Former co-captain Sam Docherty was back in the Blues’ fold at the breakfast at the MCG.
He is a cancer survivor and a board member of the Peter MacCallum Foundation, but landed in trouble when his friend and former teammate Daniel Gorringe controversially aired on a podcast Docherty’s expletive-ridden rant about the Blues’ loss to Sydney without his consent.
Docherty was then pulled from being a guest speaker at a Blues’ function ahead of the clash against Richmond, but will address club faithful ahead of the Magpies’ blockbuster on Thursday night.
Cripps said the issue had been put to bed.
“At the end of the day, those comments weren’t meant to be there. So people can look at it in two ways, but, realistically, he did that in a private setting,” Cripps said.
“So, I chatted to him at the time. No hard feelings towards ‘Doc’. We have moved on.”
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Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.
