Port Adelaide skipper Connor Rozee has thrown his support behind the club’s fresh era, declaring the Power are well placed to climb back up the AFL ladder in 2026 — and that a strong season could be crucial in convincing star midfielder Zak Butters to commit long-term.

Butters looms as one of the league’s biggest off-contract names, with his current deal expiring at the end of 2026. The South Australian-based midfielder has already attracted interest from multiple Victorian clubs keen to lure him home. At 25, and coming off three straight best-and-fairest awards, Butters’ next decision will shape Port’s fortunes and could affect the wider trade landscape.

For Rozee, it’s personal as well as professional. The captain and his midfield partner are close friends and have formed one of the Power’s most dangerous combinations over the past few seasons. Rozee is determined to ensure the club provides every possible reason for Butters to stay — starting with the on-field reset that’s now underway.

"His personality type is he's going to give his absolute all every week, no matter what," Rozee told reporters on Monday.

"Our job as a football club is to give him the best opportunity to win, the best environment around the club and put the right people around him to make him want to be here.

"My job is to play good footy, be a good friend and give him a lot of reasons to stay."

Port’s case to retain Butters rests heavily on performance. The Power slipped to 13th last season with a 9-14 record, a dramatic fall from their preliminary final appearance in 2023. The drop-off prompted major change at Alberton, most notably the transition to Josh Carr as senior coach after Ken Hinkley’s long tenure came to an end. There’s no escaping the reality: Port’s list is talented, but last year exposed gaps in consistency, confidence, and connection between game plan and execution.

Carr’s arrival signals a new direction. A former Port champion with deep ties to the club and a modern coaching profile, Carr inherits both pressure and opportunity. He has also built a re-shaped coaching group around him, bringing in Andy Collins, Stuart Dew, Luke Webster and Darren Reeves to help steer the Power into their next phase. For Rozee, that staff overhaul is more than a symbolic change — he sees it as a genuine chance for progress.

Without overpromising, the captain believes the pieces are already there. Port’s core remains strong, with Rozee and Butters supported by emerging talent and experienced heads across the ground. The Power didn’t lose their ability overnight; they lost momentum, cohesion, and the ruthless edge that defined their better stretches. Rozee’s view is that missing finals can serve as fuel rather than a full-stop.

"We clearly didn't finish the way we would've liked last year, so we're here to work hard and go as far as we can next year," Rozee said.

"Watching finals is certainly a lot tougher than playing in it, but to be honest, I think it will hold us in good stead in the long run.

"It puts a bit of fire in your belly to want to get back there as quickly as possible and I'm pretty sure we've got the list to do it."

Butters’ decision-making timeline gives Port both hope and urgency. He isn’t expected to rush into an extension, meaning 2026 will unfold with constant speculation around his future. That “spotlight year” can be draining for players, but it can also sharpen a club’s focus: provide success, stability, and a clear pathway — and your best players are far more likely to stay.

Rozee acknowledged that winning is a major part of the equation, even if players insist contract calls are about more than ladder position. The midfielder’s competitiveness is well known, and Port understands that actions matter more than promises.

"It is (important) every year for most people, I think, no matter who they are," Rozee said.

"He's obviously super competitive, so I'm sure if we win a lot of games this year it might help a bit."

The Power’s task, then, is to turn belief into results early. Their 2026 campaign begins away to North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on March 15, a match that will immediately test the club’s off-season work. Port needs to show clearer identity in the way they move the ball, defend transition, and sustain pressure over four quarters. The talent has never been the question; the standard of performance week-to-week has been.

Carr’s challenge is also cultural. Port has been a finals-capable side for much of the last decade, but the club is now at a crossroads where it must evolve or risk drifting into the middle tier. Fresh assistants can bring new tactical solutions, but they also bring different voices, demands, and energy — and players like Rozee are already embracing that shift.

For Butters, watching how quickly Port adapts will be telling. If the Power reclaim their aggressive, high-tempo brand, return to finals contention, and demonstrate a stable environment built around winning, the pitch to stay becomes far stronger. If they stumble again, the noise from back-home suitors will only grow louder.

Rozee’s leadership will be central to whichever direction Port takes. Captains can’t sign contracts for their teammates, but they can influence the environment that makes staying feel right. His comments reflect both loyalty and accountability: the Power’s best chance to secure Butters isn’t through persuasion, but through performance.

The coming season is therefore not just about redemption — it’s a referendum on Port’s future ceiling. The Power want to rise quickly. Their captain believes they can. And their star midfielder will be watching, weighing whether this new era is one worth building his prime years around.