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Port Adelaide star Zak Butters learns fate after late head-high bump on Fremantle Dockers’ Bailey Banfield

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Jackson BarrettThe West Australian
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VideoThe GWS defender was knocked out cold as soon as hit the ground.

Port Adelaide star Zak Butters has escaped any sanction over a collision with Bailey Banfield late in their victory over Fremantle and will remain eligible for the Brownlow Medal.

Butters’ hip made contact with Banfield’s head as they both hunted the ball in the tense final stages of Port’s three-point win at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

The gun midfielder was not cited at all for the incident, which is welcome news for the Power, who face a blockbuster clash with reigning premiers Collingwood at the MCG next week.

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir suggest post-game Butters got a lucky break with the umpires while the Dockers were three points down with around 90 seconds to play.

“Butters gets a little bit of split from the umpire, which gives them field position and they win,” he said.

“They win two contests and they’re the critical moments I’m talking about.”

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Butters’ Brownlow odds were suspended by bookmakers after the incident, but he is considered among the favourites after claiming last year’s Leigh Matthews MVP Trophy.

It comes as Adelaide ball-winner Matt Crouch was slapped with a one-week ban for a similar incident with Carlton’s Jack Carroll.

Power great Kane Cornes defend Butters and said he had his eyes on the ball.

“He comes in with aggression, now I personally don’t see an issue with this one. He has got hands on the football,” he told the Sunday Footy Show.

“I think this one is a little bit different, I thought his first intent was to bump and then win the football.

“With the Butters one I thought it was simultaneous where you turn your body to protect yourself and try and win the ball.

“Yes it was aggressive, yes it was hard.”

A week after Longmuir revealed the Dockers had sought clarification from the league on the treatment of Jye Amiss, Port defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher copped a fine for rough conduct against the young forward.

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