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AFL the greats have targeted zak butters and the league itself after Port Adelaide the superstar’s latest indiscretion.
Butters was fined $10,000 ($6,250 with an early plea) for his hit on Brisbane player Jarrod Berry during Saturday’s heavy loss to the Lions.
WATCH ABOVE: Butters and Berry get involved in AFL clash.
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It was the fourth time Butters has been charged this year.
But he was never suspended with the AFL’s match review guidelines allowing the 23-year-old to get away with a fine each time.
In fact, Butters has already amassed quite a rap sheet in his short career.
According to AFL websitehe was charged 15 times in his 107-game career, with 13 of those charges resulting in $29,375 in fines.
He trails only Giants captain Toby Green ($31,850) for the most fined player in AFL history.
Despite four separate sanctions this year, Butters remains eligible for the Brownlow Medal as he has not been suspended, raising questions about the “fairest” aspect of the division.
Earlier this year, North Melbourne great David King accused the AFL of defending the Brownlow Medal when Butters escapes a high-kick stop by Fremantle’s Bailey Banfield.
Fellow greats Nathan Buckley and Gary Lyon slammed Butters’ lack of discipline but also took aim at the AFL for allowing it.
“The AFL are responsible (for allowing it) … of course they are,” Lyon said on Fox Footy.
“I’ve said this many times, he could walk into Laura Kane’s office and say, ‘Laura, listen, who are we playing this week?’ I’ll have $8,000 worth of hits’ – and Laura will say ‘that’ll give you two; one slap on the chops and one on the kidneys.
“What race are we running when they allow it? And I know they’re not big shots, but four in 2024 is enough.”
Under the previous match review rules, three fines would have resulted in a suspension and Buckley raised the issue before Lyon asked for bigger fines and bans.
“How long does it have to be before you get suspended? Two, (or) is it a suspension on the third?” Buckley asked.
“I would fine them once ($10,000) and then give them an option a second time of $25,000 or a week – and then just start rubbing them; so if you want to be stupid, cast a spell on the side… it’s just ridiculous that we allow it as a competition,” Lyon replied.
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