All eyes on Port’s Butters call as trade period opens
Anna Harrington |
Port Adelaide are yet to decide whether they will accept a compensation pick for Zak Butters or match the Western Bulldogs’ free agency offer and force a blockbuster trade for the superstar midfielder.
The trade period opened on Monday with all eyes on the Butters deal, while Hawthorn will attempt to secure both Essendon star Zach Merrett and Gold Coast spearhead Ben King.
The Dogs are yet to lodge restricted free agent paperwork for Butters.
Port can accept band one compensation, which would currently deliver pick No.5 in this year’s draft, or match the Bulldogs’ offer and force a trade.
“We’re working through all those options at the moment,” Port list boss Jason Cripps said.
“Clearly the compo pick is something we’re trying to explore the market in terms of what that might give us this year and future years.
“But we’ve also got the capacity to match and force a trade if we choose to do so.
“So it’s just a little bit early, testing the market, working through all those options, but not sure which way we pivot at this stage.”
The free agency period ends on Friday, meaning the clock is ticking.
Port are unlikely to force Butters – who had significant interest from battling Richmond – into the draft but Cripps gave the Bulldogs a public warning to pay up.
“We’ve talked around if we’re not given something that we think’s fair value for Zak’s standing in the game and the posturing of pushing him into the draft and what does that look like?” Cripps said.
“I can say we’ve had a lot of conversations with (Richmond list boss) Blair Hartley over the journey, we’re pretty close. So we want to avoid that.
“We’ve had enough conversations with the Western Bulldogs for them to have a really clear understanding of what our expectations are, and they’re getting to work.”
Bulldogs list boss Michael Regan labelled Butters “priority number one and two”.
The Dogs could get other clubs involved or move players in the deal.
The AFL already flagged clubs cannot complete side deals to run alongside compensation picks unless the trade stands up on its own.
The Bulldogs and Power explored a deal where Port tall Todd Marshall moved in exchange for two first-round draft picks.
That was knocked on the head by the AFL, frustrating both Regan and Cripps.
Reagan confirmed the Dogs no longer hold interest in Marshall.
Defender Rory Lobb wants to stay while a potential trades for Hawk Finn Maginness will wait until the Butters deal is done.
“I think everyone can understand that Zak Butters is priority number one and two,” Regan said.
“And hopefully we’re able to get that one sorted out reasonably quickly and get the other boys sorted as well.”
Elsewhere, Geelong are targeting Essendon defender Jordan Ridley and St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall.
Dumped GWS forward Jesse Hogan was the first trade, moving to his fourth club, Collingwood, for pick No.75.
The trade window wraps up on October 14.
AAP