Bulldogs bite back in trade war for Zak Butters

The Western Bulldogs’ improved offer for Zak Butters has thrust them right back into the thick of the chase for the superstar free agent.

It comes as Richmond now sits a distant third in the pursuit of the Port Adelaide midfielder.

Butters has not yet told the Tigers they are out like he did Collingwood, but he will not pick them unless negotiations completely break down with the Dogs and Cats. And even that is considered all but impossible.

As reported by SEN last week, the Bulldogs last month presented a new and more lucrative contract for Butters having become aware Geelong was poised to secure the most prized signature of the exchange period.

Sources say the Dogs’ revised deal is so good it is almost on a par with Richmond’s huge and heavily front-ended proposal, albeit the Dogs can obviously structure their contract differently.

Further, the Bulldogs have workshopped trade packages and made it clear that they will deal in good faith with the Power, who are hell-bent on maximising their return for Butters.

The ball is almost in Geelong’s court now to see what – if anything – they can come back with.

The Cats were the clear frontrunner a few weeks ago, but things have tightened again a month out from the opening of the AFL’s free agency window.