Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley admits he is running out of words to counsel star midfielder Zak Butters, who has become the most fined player in AFL history.
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The Power vice-captain will be as integral as any player in deciding Friday night's showdown against second-placed Carlton at Marvel Stadium.
Butters is one of the best midfielders in the AFL but his conduct on-field has come into question, with Hinkley often caught chatting to him during a game on the bench.
The 23-year-old's career fines bill exceed $35,000, after he was cited for two separate incidents in last Saturday night's win against Richmond.
"Zak Butters will save Zak Butters from going broke," Hinkley said on Thursday.
"I am running out of words (in counselling Butters). Zak knows what he has to do. He is competitive. I love that about him. And he is working really hard at this.
"He was a touch stiff this week but maybe that is a result of what has been going on."
To beat Carlton at Marvel Stadium for the first time since 2014, Port must win the midfield battle after getting blown away in the last quarter when the teams met at the Adelaide Oval in round 12.
"You can't just break even with Carlton in the midfield where they have so much power around the ball," Hinkley said.
"Our midfield group is important to our success.
"If they can play well, that would go a long way towards us winning this game."
Entering the round sitting seventh, Port could jump to as high as second by the end of Friday night's game should they overturn a three-match losing streak against the Blues.
"We did beat the Western Bulldogs (by 48 points in round 17); everyone is talking of the Bulldogs as a really good team which they are when they play at their best," Hinkley added.
Australian Associated Press
