AFL
Former Western Jet Zak Butters has capped a breakout year by winning the John Cahill Medal as Port Adelaide’s 2023 AFL best and fairest player. The 23-year-old was remarkably consistent after a slow start, polling votes in all but two of the club’s 25 games. The John Cahill Medal win caps a strong season where Butters earned his first All-Australian blazer and won the AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player of the Year award among other accolades after a move from the forward line into the midfield. “I’ve put more into myself as I ever have this year,” Butters said in his acceptance speech. “If you keep showing up, you get what you deserve, so the more you put in the more you get out of it. I like to live like that as well.”
AFLW
Western Bulldogs youngster Keely Coyne will miss the rest of the 2023 AFLW Season after rupturing her left anterior cruciate ligament in the round seven loss to Adelaide. Coyne sustained a knee injury in the opening minutes of play at Norwood Oval. She was removed from the game at quarter time with inconclusive symptoms, with scans over the weekend confirming the extent of her injury. “It’s obviously really unfortunate for Keely, who had found her spot in the team and was impacting well,” head coach Nathan Burke said. “She has undergone dramatic development over the past 12 months, working extremely hard to better herself for the team’s benefit. “We will wrap our arms around Keely throughout her rehab journey, and look forward to seeing her back out there next season.” Coyne will meet with surgeons this week. The Dogs have been decimated by injuries to this point in the season with as few as 19 players available for selection for their round eight clash with Sydney.
