Zak Butters can still picture it.
The new Western Bulldog was in the Marvel Stadium stands, draped in red, white and blue, as a 13-year-old watching Marcus Bontempelli debut.
The Bulldogs fell to Carlton that day but Bontempelli’s 14 disposals were enough to leave an impression on Butters and his dad.
Butters, Bontempelli and Ed Richards will form a frightening midfield trio in 2027 after the 26-year-old officially departed Port Adelaide on Friday.
Butters says playing alongside one of his childhood heroes is still sinking in.
“I think we’re definitely going to be in (those best midfield) calculations, being a Bulldogs supporter I was pretty excited to play with them,” Butters said.
“I was watching from afar, playing against them for the last seven or eight years and then growing up watching Bont.
“I was at his first game at Marvel Stadium as a youngster, I remember my dad saying he thought (Bont) was going to be pretty good. Dad must be all right with the footy eye.
“I remember going in and watching him, now being his teammate is pretty surreal.”
Butters wasn’t weighed down by the impending decision to leave.
He polled 26 Brownlow Medal votes and ran second in Port Adelaide’s best and fairest despite missing the final six matches with an ankle injury.
Butters said standing in as captain in Connor Rozee’s absence and serving as a role model to younger players shifted his focus.
“I think for me, I was lucky to have a lot of good mates at Port Adelaide and the footy club there, I have a lot of respect for the footy club,” he said.
“I guess I felt like it was the only way to do it and it was the right way to do it, give it your absolute all and your best until you’re not there anymore.
“I feel like that’s what I tried to do and I feel like the leadership capacity helped me able to do that as well.
“You probably think about others and go outside of yourself when you’ve got a team to lead and some young fellas to be role models for.
“Funnily enough, the last thing you’re thinking about running out, or game day or training is yourself.
“It was actually refreshing in that sense to be able to prioritise other things other than yourself and, for me, it actually took a weight off my shoulders.”
A call from Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge arrived shortly after Butters declared Whitten Oval his preferred destination.
Beveridge was “pretty pumped” and he wasn’t the only one.
“(Beveridge) gave me a call, I could hear his sons in the background and they were pretty happy as well,” Butters said.
“I feel like it might have been a happy family.
“I like the way Bevo coaches and I like the way he holds himself as well so I’m looking forward to playing under him.”