Restricted Free Agent Zak Butters

[The Nostradamus]

Alright time to focus on 2026 targets and starting with the biggest of them all Zak Butters

9

Zak Butters

Age

25

Ht

181cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.3

4star

K

7.7

3star

HB

6.7

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.8

3star

D

14.7

4star

K

8.9

4star

HB

5.9

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.1

3star

D

17.0

5star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.0

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.6

4star

CL

0.6

3star

restricted free agent

Will be able to write his own cheque and come back home to any club

 

[THE_GUN]

Alright time to focus on 2026 targets and starting with the biggest of them all Zak Butters restricted free agent

Will be able to write his own cheque and come back home to any club

Every melbourne club will be after him and making big contracts
But i cannot see Port not matching any contract and forcing a trade , When you look at what Merrett & Petracca attracted
which ever club convinces Zak to move are going to pay through the nose in draft picks

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Every melbourne club will be after him and making big contracts
But i cannot see Port not matching any contract and forcing a trade , When you look at what Merrett & Petracca attracted
which ever club convinces Zak to move are going to pay through the nose in draft picks

He will pick dogs or cats imo.
Port will absolutely match i agree as they will want multiple r1 picks over years to cover cochrane pilot and salopek

 

[Wargreymon90]

I think if we win the flag, he’s gone. If we miss the 8, he’s gone.

There is a sweet spot there where if there are prospects of success over the coming years, he may sign on.

 

[THE_GUN]

I think if we win the flag, he’s gone. If we miss the 8, he’s gone.

There is a sweet spot there where if there are prospects of success over the coming years, he may sign on.

7 years $16 mil is where the sweet spot is as thats what it would take to get him to stop thinking about the Bulldogs

 

[Eric Shin]

Off to Tasmania confirmed

 

[BulldogMuscle]

Dogs or Cats, daylight, everybody else.

 

[Tackle Bag]

Dogs or Cats, daylight, everybody else.

Agree. Tigers very cashed up and very likely to have a good draft hand if a trade was required, but he will end up a dog or cat. Tassie the wildcard if they come with a godfather offer.

 

[MisterMarcus]

I think if we win the flag, he’s gone. If we miss the 8, he’s gone.

There is a sweet spot there where if there are prospects of success over the coming years, he may sign on.

So you're saying you need to make the 8 but never win a flag?

Should have kept Kenny....

 

[Crow till I die]

Every melbourne club will be after him and making big contracts
But i cannot see Port not matching any contract and forcing a trade , When you look at what Merrett & Petracca attracted
which ever club convinces Zak to move are going to pay through the nose in draft picks

Every chance Port might need to have $20 million + set aside to match what are likely to be mammoth offers over a decade for him

 

[THE_GUN]

Every chance Port might need to have $20 million + set aside to match what are likely to be mammoth offers over a decade for him

That would be a massive contract that lasts until he is 35+ years old
8 year deal takes him to 33 in his last year

 

[tombomb]

I am not sure it is out of the question that if Port have a poor year, they consider just taking the compo pick.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Dogs or Cats, daylight, everybody else.

I agree. He doesnt strike me as a live in the big city kind of guy. That and where his family is from probably means he will lean towards our club or yours. But if both of us dont make finals this year I can just as easily see him staying at Port.

 

[briztoon]

I am not sure it is out of the question that if Port have a poor year, they consider just taking the compo pick.

If Port have a poor year, they will already have a high pick. Most likely will want, at the very least, a current and future first. Or if they finish bottom 3, they may take take the compo pick and try and split it for a top 10 pick, plus a future first.

 

[THE_GUN]

Port will match any offer and they will demand a min 3 x 1st round pick plus
just have to look at Petracca trade and Merrett offer to get a gauge and Butters is easily worth more

Wont come cheap

 

[tombomb]

Port will match any offer and they will demand a min 3 x 1st round pick plus
just have to look at Petracca trade and Merrett offer to get a gauge and Butters is easily worth more

Wont come cheap

It doesn’t really matter what they demand. If he wants to go to a team up the top of the ladder, they will be looking at Merrett/Curnow type offers.

 

[tombomb]

If Port have a poor year, they will already have a high pick. Most likely will want, at the very least, a current and future first. Or if they finish bottom 3, they may take take the compo pick and try and split it for a top 10 pick, plus a future first.

This is my point.

If they do finish bottom 4, which isn't impossible, would they prefer the compo pick or haggling with a a team like Geelong or Hawthorn over a Curnow/Cameron type deal.

 

[THE_GUN]

It doesn’t really matter what they demand. If he wants to go to a team up the top of the ladder, they will be looking at Merrett/Curnow type offers.

Restricted free agent !

Zak Butters will still need to get to the club of his choice and a team at the top will need to work out a way to get him there
Wont be easy with a player like Butters risking the draft with Eagles , Richmond , Essendon , north waiting

 

[tombomb]

Restricted free agent !

Zak Butters will still need to get to the club of his choice and a team at the top will need to work out a way to get him there
Wont be easy with a player like Butters risking the draft with Eagles , Richmond , Essendon , north waiting

Restricted Free Agent gives Port a little bit of extra leverage, but not that much.

 

[briztoon]

This is my point.

If they do finish bottom 4, which isn't impossible, would they prefer the compo pick or haggling with a a team like Geelong or Hawthorn over a Curnow/Cameron type deal.

Port are probably more interested in multiple picks for points in the next two drafts with the amount of top end nga and father son kids they have.

 

[Cyclops]

I think the Pies stop paying Grundy at the end of next year. We didn't stump up his entire contract, I've heard 200-300k, so not exactly a warchest but we have a bit of play in the fishing line.

Our current list was put together with our hands tied financially, but we keep reaching the prelims. Must be doing something right.

 

[THE_GUN]

Restricted Free Agent gives Port a little bit of leverage, but not that much.

Yes it does

They force the other team to pay way overs to even get a chance and hold the cards on how the trade plays out
even with a player like Merrett & Petracca we seen 3 x 1st rounder plus some

Butters is going to be very very expensive for which ever team he decides to go to

 

[tombomb]

Yes it does

They force the other team to pay way overs to even get a chance and hold the cards on how the trade plays out
even with a player like Merrett & Petracca we seen 3 x 1st rounder plus some

Butters is going to be very very expensive for which ever team he decides to go to

It really doesn't.

Butters is basically uncontracted, but Port have the option of accepting a compo pick if they prefer that to trading him.

Other than that, it is really no different. Port don't have all this leverage just because he is an RFA.

Merrett and Petracca were contracted. It's a different situation.

 

[THE_GUN]

It really doesn't.

Butters is basically uncontracted, but Port have the option of accepting a compo pick if they prefer that to trading him.

Other than that, it is really no different. Port don't have all this leverage just because he is an RFA.

Merrett and Petracca were contracted. It's a different situation.

How did the jeremy cameron free agency go ?

 

[Orange Agent]

If he's a Geelong prototype recruit, wants to live outside of the city, how is Whitten Oval a better option that Tullamarine?