Restricted Free Agent Zak Butters

[#Port Patriot#]

From the AFLPA's current collective bargaining agreement (page 172). Pretty sure players aren't required to accept the terms of a matched offer at their current club if they decide to stay, instead the requirement is on the club to meet the terms of the matched offer (the agreement makes clear one exception, that clubs aren't required to match incentive payments based on team performance, for obvious reasons).

Yeah, that’s the bit I’m getting at. If Geelong lodge $1.2m and Port match it, the official matching offer is based on Geelong’s lodged offer, not whatever Port may have previously offered Butters earlier in the year.

So if Port had already offered him $2m and he knocked it back, that doesn’t automatically become the matched contract. The match is the Geelong terms.

But the CBA wording you quoted also means Port and Butters aren’t forbidden from agreeing to a different Port deal inside that window. So Port could still say “we’ll do the $2m deal” or some other structure, but that would be a separate agreement between Port and Butters, not the actual matched Geelong offer.

If no trade gets done after Port match, then Butters basically has three choices. Sign with Port on the matched terms by Geelong, agree to a different Port contract if both sides want that, or go into the draft. He doesn’t just get to walk to Geelong as an RFA once Port have matched.

 

[WhyAmIHere]

Dogs have one of the youngest lists we do not need any more kids.

I've phrased that poorly - the academy kids (El Souki and the like although I doubt any will see their draft profile rise as quickly as this kid) you may need to match for.

 

[Crankyhawk]

Nope I understood fine. He won't stay at Port just because they match a bid. It would be a trade or PSD.

and my position if that a trade doesnt happen, he is likely to not try the PSD and risk ending up at RIchmond, Carlton or Essendon

 

[Pure_Ownage]

AFL has just made any trade for Butters more difficult. No longer club clubs sweeten the deal with 3rd/4th round picks.

We would have to demand a top 5 pick this year + 2 first round picks next year.

You can demand all you like but he isnt going to pick a club with a top 5 pick (or that can get one) and when the alternative is he walks and you get nothing the best you will get is 3 later 1sts. This is reality anything else is fantasy (although i feel sorry for port).

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I think if port match and no deal he chooses to stay rather than psd

When was the last time a club matched a top liner and that top liner decided to stay?

 

[Crankyhawk]

When was the last time a club matched a top liner and that top liner decided to stay?

always a first time

 

[Pure_Ownage]

always a first time

Highly unlikely this will be it.
If he has already decided to leave and he matches there might be a trade (although it won't be a top 5 pick, he wont pick a bottom 5 club and the afl have pretty much made top 5 picks untradeable with the rule changes) or he might go to the draft with a huge price on his head to try and get where he wants. But either way he wont be electing to stay.

 

[scotty13]

You can demand all you like but he isnt going to pick a club with a top 5 pick (or that can get one) and when the alternative is he walks and you get nothing the best you will get is 3 later 1sts. This is reality anything else is fantasy (although i feel sorry for port).

But if he walks, he will end up at which ever team finishes bottom. A Nick Stevens cautionary tale to be told.

 

[scotty13]

Highly unlikely this will be it.
If he has already decided to leave and he matches there might be a trade (although it won't be a top 5 pick, he wont pick a bottom 5 club and the afl have pretty much made top 5 picks untradeable with the rule changes) or he might go to the draft with a huge price on his head to try and get where he wants. But either way he wont be electing to stay.

Given Port just gave JHF a pay rise because we weren't paying the salary cap floor, suggests to me he can put whatever price he wants on his head and we can take it. Time the club got ruthless.

 

[GoPies1]

If Smith is on $700k and they offer Butters $1.2m
That will blow any argument the cats have had over the years that they don’t overpay players
$1.2 for butters isn’t actually overpaying either.
I think Geelong have to leave this one alone as it highlights the widely discussed salary cap anomalies at the club.
Everyone outside of the Geelong bubble knows something is going on, just as those watching the Carlton saga occur knew.
Even the swans banner at a game against Carlton made fun of the cap back then.

 

[4Seasons]

Lol. You can all quote me end of year.

Right or wrong,you have really soiled up this thread.

 

[d-mac3276]

and my position if that a trade doesnt happen, he is likely to not try the PSD and risk ending up at RIchmond, Carlton or Essendon

I think he'd be open to the idea of playing alongside El Achkar and El Hawli...they shall be referred to as the Three El-migos

 

[Crankyhawk]

I think he'd be open to the idea of playing alongside El Achkar and El Hawli...they shall be referred to as the Three El-migos

El Butters

 

[MarcMaverick]

I think he'd be open to the idea of playing alongside El Achkar and El Hawli...they shall be referred to as the Three El-migos

El Butters

Bloody El.
El Capitan.

 

[GFrost35]

1.) Butters has already decided where he wants to go… (Dogs or Cats)

2.) Port will get 3 first round picks and a player or swap of later picks.

3.) It’s not fair for Port… not close to what he is worth but he is out of contract and players choice wins…

 

[Pure_Ownage]

But if he walks, he will end up at which ever team finishes bottom. A Nick Stevens cautionary tale to be told.

Like all the other players that walked to the draft and got picked up by a club they refused to talk to? I must have missed the bit where Richmond or West Coast took ah chee last year.

 

[scotty13]

Like all the other players that walked to the draft and got picked up by a club they refused to talk to? I must have missed the bit where Richmond or West Coast took ah chee last year.

So you reckon Butters is on the same level as Ah Chee then?

When was the last time a genuine top 5/10 player in the comp went to the PSD?

 

[Jason JC]

So you reckon Butters is on the same level as Ah Chee then?

When was the last time a genuine top 5/10 player in the comp went to the PSD?

He would put a price on his head and nobody else would pay it, who is going to pay for a player who does not want to be at your club? And I think he is going to the Dogs not Cats, so this isn't just me saying my club will get him cheap.

But it won't happen, Port won't let him go for absolutely nothing in return, a deal will get done.

 

[scotty13]

He would put a price on his head and nobody else would pay it, who is going to pay for a player who does not want to be at your club? And I think he is going to the Dogs not Cats, so this isn't just me saying my club will get him cheap.

But it won't happen, Port won't let him go for absolutely nothing in return, a deal will get done.

Well, then he would end up at Port anyway. We can cover any price he puts on his head.

 

[Jason JC]

Well, then he would end up at Port anyway. We can cover any price he puts on his head.

But why though, why waste so much of your cap on a player who does not want to be there?

 

[scotty13]

But why though, why waste so much of your cap on a player who does not want to be there?

Because in 12mths we can trade him. Clubs need to take back some of the power*.

*I don't think it would get to that though. I'm confident if a trade can't be made he will stay and seek a trade end of next season rather than try his luck.

 

[Turksta84]

Exactly.

I'm not claiming to have any intel in if he's coming to the Dogs or elsewhere, but I was told by Dogs recruiter last year that they were avoiding trading any 2026 draft picks as they were keen on "a certain free agent" and knew it'd cost a lot as Port would match.

If he nominates us the one outlier to this situation could be if Buku Khamis taking up a FA offer elsewhere as we could get a semi decent pick back which Port would no doubt ask for.

Ask your dogs recruiter mate then why they didnt trade there 2025 1st into 2026 if they were truly serious about it.

 

[Turksta84]

1.) Butters has already decided where he wants to go… (Dogs or Cats)

2.) Port will get 3 first round picks and a player or swap of later picks.

3.) It’s not fair for Port… not close to what he is worth but he is out of contract and players choice wins…

Basically the most sensible post yet. Although out of more hope i still think theres a chance he hasnt made his mind up yet.

 

[Purple Suit]

1.) Butters has already decided where he wants to go… (Dogs or Cats)

2.) Port will get 3 first round picks and a player or swap of later picks.

3.) It’s not fair for Port… not close to what he is worth but he is out of contract and players choice wins…

3 is correct but you still have to do the deal. If the club who wants him is paying less than market value in salary and isn’t near the bottom of the ladder, they better come with a great trade.

Think about the Tim Kelly deal Geelong got. The only reason that happened is because Freo was below WC on the ladder so they had to pay up. Same with Jackson to Freo in reverse.

 

[Foxman98]

3 is correct but you still have to do the deal. If the club who wants him is paying less than market value in salary and isn’t near the bottom of the ladder, they better come with a great trade.

Think about the Tim Kelly deal Geelong got. The only reason that happened is because Freo was below WC on the ladder so they had to pay up. Same with Jackson to Freo in reverse.

No West Coast were getting an "AA" in his prime when they thought they were still in the window

Also Jackson was 2 firsts and a 2nd with a 3rd going back to Freo so not as massive of a deal