Speculation Zak Butters [RFA 2026]

[bobs head soup]

Us Dogs fans are conditioned to accept that we never land a big fish, so I'm normally pretty unexcited when we're linked to a star of the game

This one feels a bit different though

Aside from Butters being a Dogs fan with family not far away, it's pretty apparent we've been building a sizeable war chest over the past year or 2.

We didn't fight real hard to keep Smith, Daniel or Macrae last trade period, which by all reports clears $2 mill or more of cap space.

At a time when the cap is growing and Jamarra may well also leave, opening up another $800k or so, we are clearly preparing for something pretty substantial, even allowing for a portion of that going to re-signings.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Im sure you do trust Twomey, when he says he is a chance to go to your club

Cal only rates his own mail

Even when he is wrong

I think Twomey is generally pretty accurate in his reporting because he has a set gig about drafting. He actually doesn't need to report anything about trades because it's not his bread and butter, there's not much upside for him to report a scoop. There is downside though for his credibility if he gets it wrong so i generally think he doesn't go to press with anything he's not confident in.

I also reckon he'd be pretty keen on kicking it to Darcy

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I know people can shit can a lot of the reasons I’ll list, but I think it’s a pretty compelling argument.

Footscray is closest AFL town to his home town, played at western jets, went to school in Maribyrnong, family are bulldogs supporters, besides Port I reckon we’d be able to offer him the most cash of the teams he’d actually want to go to.

I just can’t imagine someone as competitive as him is going to want to go a team that is not in the finals mix yet like Essendon, Richmond, North.

I don’t see the Hawks happening at all. I wouldn’t be surprised if they even trade this years picks for next year so they can go for Reid.

Yeah there's quite a lot of things that would swing him your way.

 

[Tasmanian saint]

If clubs are smart they will just wait till the end of next season when his a restricted free agent and make him an offer port won’t match

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

If clubs are smart they will just wait till the end of next season when his a restricted free agent and make him an offer port won’t match

Clubs are smart enough to know that he's invested in Ken, and when Ken leaves he's going to be open to leaving. That's this year.

 

[Scotland]

Us Dogs fans are conditioned to accept that we never land a big fish, so I'm normally pretty unexcited when we're linked to a star of the game

This one feels a bit different though

Aside from Butters being a Dogs fan with family not far away, it's pretty apparent we've been building a sizeable war chest over the past year or 2.

We didn't fight real hard to keep Smith, Daniel or Macrae last trade period, which by all reports clears $2 mill or more of cap space.

At a time when the cap is growing and Jamarra may well also leave, opening up another $800k or so, we are clearly preparing for something pretty substantial, even allowing for a portion of that going to re-signings.

You still have to pay 95% of the cap so can only really move money around and have up to $900k 'spare' year to year.

Good to have flexibility and not have poor contracts on the books into the future (Macrae, Daniel clearly not in future plans) but war chests aren't all they are cracked up to be.

 

[bobs head soup]

You still have to pay 95% of the cap so can only really move money around and have up to $900k 'spare' year to year.

Good to have flexibility and not have poor contracts on the books into the future (Macrae, Daniel clearly not in future plans) but war chests aren't all they are cracked up to be.

Contracts can be loaded to create even more space for future years

 

[Jonts]

I'd like to think so, but cash and opportunity trumps "homesickness" - Mitch Clark a perfect example.

Polec

 

[Straight Outta Crompton]

Haven't seen it mentioned to date, but it wouldn't surprise if the Dogs made a pitch that includes a future captaincy role. Currently a VC, the opportunity to play for, and go on to lead your childhood team is an opportunity few would pass up

 

[Pencil case]

What number will he be wearing for the Dogs next year?

 

[Crow till I die]

What number will he be wearing for the Dogs next year?

119?

 

[Flags_In_The_Bag]

What is Bont going to say?
You already have players wanting out and by the sounds of things, the current culture isn't what it should be.

Butters would make a good fit in Geelong though.

 

[Flags_In_The_Bag]

What is Bont going to say?
You already have players wanting out and by the sounds of things, the current culture isn't what it should be.

Butters would make a good fit in Geelong though.

Their culture is great. It's why JUH is on the outs. But I wouldn't expect anything different from a supporter of a club that's self entitled

 

[Flags_In_The_Bag]

If he leaves it would be to the Dogs, is what I hear.

Heard from somebody that mentioned last year that an ex port player said he wanted to play in the same midfield as Bont soon enough. But that ex player was a tad disgruntled though so who knows

 

[Flags_In_The_Bag]

Anyone that takes Kingy seriously has rocks in their head

If there's any real biggest trade potential this season, it would be on the Bont whether he stays or leaves. But he's definitely staying at the Dogs.

There's talks of players every year ffs... and it's amusing how so many of these people you're trying to refer to as some how credible sources, are predominantly wrong. It's just specifically.

Seriously, just give it a rest already.

Yet I'm sure you have posted about players from other clubs that have had speculation about them before. Hmmm

 

[Bald]

What is Bont going to say?
You already have players wanting out and by the sounds of things, the current culture isn't what it should be.

Who?

Butters would make a good fit in Geelong though.

The only thing that would make a good fit in Geelong is the plague.

 

[Scotland]

Contracts can be loaded to create even more space for future years

Yes but only one year at a time.

St Kilda have all this money to pay Tom De Koning and when he invariably doesn't go there they will just reallocate it.

 

[bigboysdontcry]

Just heard some news this morning off a mate of mine who is a player agent. Butters deciding between Port, Dogs and Cats...Leaning toward Dogs. Won't consider Tigers, Bombers, Saints, North. Find it amusing that the Sam Mclure didn't mention the Dogs during the week.I would imagine Ugle-Hagan would be part of a trade to get the pick for Butters.

 

[bomberlegend2007]

Just heard some news this morning off a mate of mine who is a player agent. Butters deciding between Port, Dogs and Cats...Leaning toward Dogs. Won't consider Tigers, Bombers, Saints, North. Find it amusing that the Sam Mclure didn't mention the Dogs during the week.I would imagine Ugle-Hagan would be part of a trade to get the pick for Butters.

Very odd, because my source tells me that Saints and Essendon are right in the mix. North out.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

What can the Doggies give up for him? Snagging Butters would be a huge coup for them.

To think their midfield would be: Bont, Butters, Libba, Richards, Treloar, Kennedy, plus Freija and Sanders.

Whilst not long ago it was: Bont, Libba, Macrae, Dunkley, Treloar and Smith.

They'd have rebuilt it really quickly.

 

[bigboysdontcry]

What can the Doggies give up for him? Snagging Butters would be a huge coup for them.

To think their midfield would be: Bont, Butters, Libba, Richards, Treloar, Kennedy, plus Freija and Sanders.

Whilst not long ago it was: Bont, Libba, Macrae, Dunkley, Treloar and Smith.

They'd have rebuilt it really quickly.

We have our first round this season and next season. You can also trade away your future future first coming this trade period. On top of that, Ugle-Hagan is almost a certain to be traded for a first round pick at the end of the season. Doggies will trade 2 first for Butters.

 

[Oisin_the_Goat]

I think it comes down more to what team Butters wants to go to rather than the deal itself. WB already have an impressive MF list. They will have stacked depth adding him in. I think the Cats will chase Rowell harder as Butters is a bit similiar attacking player to Holmes + Smith.

 

[Revan11]

I think if Port trade Butters this year we would need a pick to land us Sharp.

 

[Daka]

Just heard some news this morning off a mate of mine who is a player agent. Butters deciding between Port, Dogs and Cats...Leaning toward Dogs. Won't consider Tigers, Bombers, Saints, North. Find it amusing that the Sam Mclure didn't mention the Dogs during the week.I would imagine Ugle-Hagan would be part of a trade to get the pick for Butters.

Out of those, I think he goes to the Cats than if your mail is correct, usually Geelong win out in trade discussions against a side like WB no offense, I love the Doggies.

 

[bigboysdontcry]

Out of those, I think he goes to the Cats than if your mail is correct, usually Geelong win out in trade discussions against a side like WB no offense, I love the Doggies.

That's a fair call but in this situation, he was a mad bulldogs supporter growing up and all the family are. He also idolises Bontempelli. We have the cash and we will be a contender. Rowell interest to the cats might pave the way for us.