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New reports reveal that Zak Butters decided to join the Western Bulldogs over Geelong because the Bulldogs were more proactive and offered a record-breaking nine-year contract worth up to 18 million dollars. Geelong was reportedly hesitant to detail a trade package with Port Adelaide, preferring Butters to formally nominate them first, while the Bulldogs demonstrated greater flexibility in negotiations to secure the restricted free agent.
Fresh details on why Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters chose the Western Bulldogs have emerged, with Geelong’s reluctance to outline a deal with the Power reportedly playing a key role.
Butters earlier this month informed the Bulldogs of his desire to join his childhood club over GeelongWHAT'S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
It came after reports suggested the Cats had pulled away in the highly-competitive race for the signature of Butters, who was deciding whether to join Geelong, Western Bulldogs or Richmond.the Bulldogs “had been more open and realistic than Geelong” in talks to get a deal done, with the Power keen to get suitable compensation for losing the restricted free agent. Cotton reported Butters “likely would’ve leaned towards joining the Cats”, but the Dogs “stood as the best pathway for all parties” and had “shown more willingness and proactiveness” to grant Butters his wish to return to Victoria.
“The Dogs also bumped up their offer to nine years worth as much as $18 million in total — the biggest deal in AFL history — and got aggressive in recent weeks to make it clear they were open to multiple possibilities in trade talks,” Cotton wrote for“As for Geelong, it’s believed the club wanted Butters to first nominate them before it could get into the nitty gritty details of a potential package to Port later. Though it’s understood South Australian duo Brad Close and Jay Polkinghorne were among the Cats players floated to be included in a deal.
“There’s a view that Geelong would’ve wanted to keep its powder dry with the likelihood of revisiting a Marshall trade after negotiations with St Kilda broke down last year. ”on Wednesday morning, SEN journalist Sam Edmund reported Butters had initially “informed Cats officials that he had settled on them as his preferred destination”. But the Cats “refused to explain how they would strike a deal with Port Adelaide” for Butters, according to Edmund, which cost them.
“Geelong, while they repeatedly urged Zak Butters to formally nominate – ‘just nominate us’ – they also pushed Zak Butters’ manager Peter Lenton to open talks with Port Adelaide, the Cats at no stage indicated how a deal would be done,” Edmund told“That reluctance from Geelong ultimately eroded their footing. It turned off an already-wary Port Adelaide and, in the end, reopened the door for the Western Bulldogs.
”Edmund added Port Adelaide had “flatly refused to engage with Geelong” as the club was concerned the Cats’ “hardline dealings and stance and tactics would have ultimately left them short-changed in a Butters move and they were determined to resist”. It reaches back to Geelong’s bold attempt to lure Travis Boak out of Port Adelaide in 2012, while there were tense talks between the two clubs over the Esava Ratugolea deal that pushed the 2023 trade deadline.
“In short, the Power were convinced the Cats would have made their life hell in a negotiation for Butters,” Edmund said. “The Bulldogs, at the same time as this was all unfolding, had shown an increased appetite to put forward trade scenarios.
They also had come with a far bigger financial offer – an all-of-club push that hadn’t always been there – and all parties agree: If Butters was an unrestricted free agent, he’d already have the hoops in his wardrobe. It’d just be done.
“But the Cats’ caginess, the Power’s refusal to deal with them and the increasingly-busy Bulldogs swung it back towards the Kennel. ”indicated the Bulldogs were unlikely to lodge Butters’ free agency on the first day of the exchange period as the club and Port Adelaide negotiate over a deal. The report suggested the Dogs were “expected to wait until deeper into the free agency week before lodging their offer”.
As a restricted free agent, Port can match any offer and force a trade, or decline to match and receive Band 1 free agency compensation — currently Pick 5. There had been speculation the clubs could seek a secondary trade if Port Adelaide accepted the Pick 5 compensation – which would have seen Port utility Todd Marshall linked to the Kennel in exchange for two first-round selections –
Zak Butters Western Bulldogs Geelong Cats Port Adelaide AFL Trade
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