Player Watch Pick #12 (2018) - Zak Butters

[Schulzenfest]

I'd rather straight swap Butters for a 2028 fifth rounder than have Cody Weightman

3

Cody Weightman

Age

25

Ht

179cm

Wt

75kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

6.5

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

2.5

2star

M

2.0

2star

T

1.0

3star

G

1.0

4star

D

6.5

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

2.5

2star

M

2.0

2star

T

1.0

2star

G

1.0

4star

D

6.5

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

2.5

3star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

G

1.0

4star

on our list.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

The thing that might be able to grease the wheels on a possible Butters trade is that the Tassie Devils in 2027 have to trade picks 5, 7, 11 and 13. In subsequent drafts, they have to trade pick 5 as well.

It means a club like the Bulldogs could deal with them and get the necessary capital for us to get a massive haul for Butters if he decides to leave.

The Tassie Devils will be eyeing off getting Ryley Sanders.

 

[MrChow]

This is the problem though, we match and then Zak needs to make the choice, it’s not like Zak suddenly becomes contracted to Port for the terms that the other Club set, the choice sits with Zak.

So let’s say Zak chooses the other Club, it’s not like Port are dealing with a number of suitors, we are really just dealing with the one Club.

I would love to think we will get offered a minimum of 4 first rounders but I can also see the scenario that the other Club just offers a slight upgrade on the normal FA compo.

So what happens if Port refuses the trade offer? AFL might mediate. What if Port still refuses.

Butters has to go in the draft. Which he will defs not want to do. So he will state pretty clearly that he will not go into a deal with a club with that risk.

So all of the trade scenarios and values will be worked out with a club, before the bid. So it’s still a multi club situation.

 

[MrChow]

The thing that might be able to grease the wheels on a possible Butters trade is that the Tassie Devils in 2027 have to trade picks 5, 7, 11 and 13. In subsequent drafts, they have to trade pick 5 as well.

It means a club like the Bulldogs could deal with them and get the necessary capital for us to get a massive haul for Butters if he decides to leave.

The Tassie Devils will be eyeing off getting Ryley Sanders.

Aren’t the devils coming in in 2028, with their draft hand 2027, and the Butters trade end of 2026? I can’t see the link to how Tassie fits in.

 

[soafraid]

Aren’t the devils coming in in 2028, with their draft hand 2027, and the Butters trade end of 2026? I can’t see the link to how Tassie fits in.

I wanna know how the hell they're meant to be coming in 2 seasons. There's still a massive shit fight about the stadium, let alone the inevitable blowouts in construction time if they do end up building it. Not a chance in hell they have a stadium in 2 years.

 

[blackdiamond]

So what happens if Port refuses the trade offer? AFL might mediate. What if Port still refuses.

Butters has to go in the draft. Which he will defs not want to do. So he will state pretty clearly that he will not go into a deal with a club with that risk.

So all of the trade scenarios and values will be worked out with a club, before the bid. So it’s still a multi club situation.

We all know that once a player selects a club the multi club scenario is out the window, unless of course if Butters is happy to go to a few Clubs of his nomination, but that’s rare.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

Aren’t the devils coming in in 2028, with their draft hand 2027, and the Butters trade end of 2026? I can’t see the link to how Tassie fits in.

With the ability to use picks for trades into the next year and the year after, I assumed the Tassie Devils would be able to start some level of trading in 2026 which might not be the case.

They can also bring in uncontracted players so Ryley Sanders might go back through that. The Bulldogs would just get FA compensation is my understanding.

Easy come. Easy go.

We're back to the Bulldogs not having a lot of capital. They might be able to get something if they trade Busslinger back to WA. I assume the Doggies picks will be late rather than early first round. Joel Frejiah would be a really good get but I don't think they are putting him in the deal. They will want to be putting in Buku Khamis into the deal and players like that.

If Butters really looks at the makeup of the Bulldogs team, he would see that they have oodles of talent but not the balance to win a premiership. Their backline is just too porous and he wants to win flags. The Hawks would be the place for Butters but who doesn't want to play for the team they grew up with.

Plenty of water under the bridge to go.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

So what happens if Port refuses the trade offer? AFL might mediate. What if Port still refuses.

Butters has to go in the draft. Which he will defs not want to do. So he will state pretty clearly that he will not go into a deal with a club with that risk.

So all of the trade scenarios and values will be worked out with a club, before the bid. So it’s still a multi club situation.

The AFL have more hand in mediation with an AFL controlled club than a member controlled one.

 

[StueyDaDew]

Zak Butters’ free agency is like any business deal: there are risks and gambles. Zak will choose the club he wants, and Port can match any bid. Both Zak and Port hold leverage.

Technically, he can still go through the pre-season draft — but that’s never happening. The bottom club would happily take him for nothing and flip him a year later for a huge return. No star wants that outcome or the embarrassment that comes with it.

That’s why the player managers are critical. They make sure the club Zak picks can afford the contract and structure a deal that Port is unlikely to block. Everyone knows that once the chosen club lodges the bid, that’s where he’s going.

When Port matches it - it forces Zak to pick Port or the club he wants to go to. The trade value is a contracted player at this point. Zak has to pick (again, he ain’t going to a shit club). It’s a very different scenario to an uncontracted player.

Expect the free agency bid to be close to what a club is willing to pay Zak.

Let's just hope we don't get screwed over like the Crows did trading with Geelong for Dangerfield.

Gore.
Milera.
Doedee.

Lol.

 

[240volt]

Let's just hope we don't get screwed over like the Crows did trading with Geelong for Dangerfield.

Gore.
Milera.
Doedee.

Lol.

Even GWS with them trading Cameron to Geelong got 3 first round duds.
Geelong always seam to win trades.

 

[gbear]

I wanna know how the hell they're meant to be coming in 2 seasons. There's still a massive shit fight about the stadium, let alone the inevitable blowouts in construction time if they do end up building it. Not a chance in hell they have a stadium in 2 years.

The AFL need to shelve the Tasmanian devils until it reduces the number of Victorian teams and Tasmania solves their stadium issue.

 

[240volt]

The AFL need to shelve the Tasmanian devils until it reduces the number of Victorian teams and Tasmania solves their stadium issue.

Agree with what you’re saying but with the AFL now being stacked with cash we will never see the end of a Vic side.

 

[Watto71]

If Butters decides to leave we need him to do this
Average 25 disposals a game.
Kick 20 plus goals.
Win club best and fairest
Make all Australian team

This will push his value up even more

 

[PortAdelFC1997]

If Butters decides to leave we need him to do this
Average 25 disposals a game.
Kick 20 plus goals.
Win club best and fairest
Make all Australian team

This will push his value up even more

If that were to happen, that must mean Port will have to a great season and he re-signs for LIFE.

 

[all seeing eye]

Butters doesnt have to prove anything, he is coming into his peak years and is an elite of the afl. Everyone knows this, however if he chooses the dogs , it will be hard to extract full value.

 

[Nemisis]

Getting Butters to sign for LIFE would definitely be a great result because there is no way we will get his true value in a trade, unfortunately.

 

[Rash]

If Butters decides to leave we need him to do this
Average 25 disposals a game.
Kick 20 plus goals.
Win club best and fairest
Make all Australian team

This will push his value up even more

all of this is likely

the only one that is more unlikely is the 20 goals

 

[StueyDaDew]

Even GWS with them trading Cameron to Geelong got 3 first round duds.
Geelong always seam to win trades.

Sure, but when look at the list of players in the 2015 draft the Crows could have pick up ahead of Milera & Doedee.
They really only have themselves to blame.

 

[longdonkey]

If we get offered something like 14 & 23 for Butters we should 100% let him go to the draft. While Merrett and Petracca are worth large bounties. Do you think we were going to get Nas for less than 3 first round picks even though he was out of contract? At some stage we have to stamp the foot down and say No this is not happening anymore.

 

[240volt]

Sure, but when look at the list of players in the 2015 draft the Crows could have pick up ahead of Milera & Doedee.
They really only have themselves to blame.

That’s it with picks in 2009 we had 8 and 9 that netted us Butcher and Moore.
Same draft at 29 and 34 was Gunston and Gawn.
You just never know what you’re getting with picks.

 

[Andre]

If he goes we know we're getting screwed. The media will switch to 'finals flop' etc. and say worth a couple of late firsts. The club will do a brief huff and puff, then fold. We also know if he goes he'll nominate a club and they'll be 'wish we could do more but we don't have the picks'. When was the last time a player went to Victoria from outside Vic and said 4+ clubs they'd go to whoever offered their existing club the best deal? (I say 4+ because no one wants to go to North and usually there's 2 or 3 other basket cases there at any time).

It really all comes down to Carr and co. showing we're a club worth staying with. I think if we look like we'll be a threat sometime 27 to 29, he'll sign on to take himself through to an unrestricted free agent and go then. If the stink of Hinkley is so embedded he doesn't think it'll get out whilst he's in his prime he'll go end of next year.

 

[Duck Farmer]

If we get offered something like 14 & 23 for Butters we should 100% let him go to the draft.

If we don't get an acceptable deal we should just match rather than sending him to the draft. Butters is not the type of guy to sit out of footy or play without motivation if we force him to stay because the compensation is peanuts.

 

[longdonkey]

If we don't get an acceptable deal we should just match rather than sending him to the draft. Butters is not the type of guy to sit out of footy or play without motivation if we force him to stay because the compensation is peanuts.

Oh yeah we should match 100% I'm talking about the negotiation after we match. The best deal for us is to finish Top 4 and he re-signs long term. The next best deal for us it he signs a 1 year deal then we get a shot at trading when some clubs have Tassies draft haul. The next best is 2 x Top 10 picks in 2026.

 

[StueyDaDew]

That’s it with picks in 2009 we had 8 and 9 that netted us Butcher and Moore.
Same draft at 29 and 34 was Gunston and Gawn.
You just never know what you’re getting with picks.

Taking high draft picks into a draft always look good on paper no doubt. But if Butters decides to move on maybe we should look at trading picks for local players or our invested NGA’s that’s still pending on the AFL new rulings.

A little injury prone of late but Will Day or Mattaes Phillipou come to mind.

 

[all seeing eye]

Any currency we get for Butters is going to be spent in securing , Cochrane in 26 and Pilot and Salopek in 27. Under the new rules we will probably need an extra first in 2026 giving us 2 firsts and then at least 2 extra firsts in 2027 for our NGA and FS. In 27 we may need to use an a 28 first as well giving us four in 27.
This assumes Cochrane is pick 1 and is approved, and that Pilot and Salopek are both top 10 in 2027.
I think the club may be tempted to trade Zak to secure those 3.