Trade talk: Outlining the pulling power in four-club Butters wrestle

SEN’s Sam Edmund has outlined the points of difference for each of the four clubs believed to be in the race for Zak Butters.

The Western Bulldogs, Geelong, Collingwood and Richmond are all firmly in the mix for the star midfielder who looks set to leave Port Adelaide at season’s end.

All four of the clubs have their own pulling power which has been laid out by Edmund who insists no decision has been made by Butters.

“Western Bulldogs, Geelong, Collingwood, Richmond - they’ve all met with Butters. They’ve all indicated a strong desire to get him in. They’ve all presented their contract offers to get him in,” Edmund said on SEN’s Whateley.

“A lot of us as outsiders believe that these things are preordained, that they’re worked out and decided a long way out, sometimes years in advance.

“While that is sometimes the case, just as often it is not. These decisions take a lot of time and a lot of working through.

“This is a genuine four-option wrestle for Zak Butters.

“To illustrate the difficulty of the decision in front of Zak, consider the different players of appeal of the quarter because they’re all different.”

“All four have different attractions.

“Maybe Richmond aside, whatever decision Zak makes could tilt this competition on its axis next season.

“It’s an enormous decision and the consequences of the wider competition will be obvious in time. Whatever club he goes to will be elevated many times over in terms of their legitimacy for a premiership.”

Western Bulldogs

“Long the frontrunner. The emotional attachment, the sentimental choice.

“That’s clear, that’s a lure.

“If he chooses the Dogs he teams up with The Bont and Ed Richards in the midfield. Good luck coaching against that.”

Geelong

“The lifestyle lure that has attracted so many players down the years. That’s obvious.

“If he chooses Geelong, gee whiz - Bailey Smith and Max Holmes, and Zak Butters on top of that. Good luck coaching against that.”

Collingwood

“Big club, big crowds, the chance to play with Nick Daicos who has been part of the Pies’ pitch to get his commitment.

“If he chooses Collingwood it’s Nick Daicos, and in all likelihood if we’re being honest with ourselves, Lachie Neale as well.

“Coaching against that would be a nightmare.”

Richmond

“A stack of money, maybe the most ever. The biggest cash sack we’ve ever seen.”

The club tipped to win Butters race

The Tigers will win the race for Butters.

That is the opinion of Craig Hutchison who reckons the reported money on offer from the Tigers will be too good to refuse.

Back in April, Hutchy put forward a hypothetical $18 million pitch for the Power gun which would be front-ended and see him earn $4.5m in his first year, $2.3m in year two and $2m in year three.

An offer of $18m over eight years was then reported by AFL Media's Cal Twomey in June.

Now in late July, Hutchy believes this cash will get Butters over the line at Tigerland ahead of the Dogs, Cats and Pies.

“A prediction - my money has been on from the word go,” Hutchison said on Channel 7’s Agenda Setters.

“When it all gets married up, I think the overwhelming amount of money will be too good to say no to.

“Richmond will win.”

He added: “They’ve put all the money at the front. It’s an unbelievable amount of money.

“I think - opinion - he doesn’t know yet. He’ll end up choosing Richmond.

“That’s my view.”

25-year-old Butters who is currently nursing a high-grade syndesmosis injury suffered against St Kilda in Round 18.

He could still return for Port before the end of the 2026 season.