Insane deal Butters won't be able to resistBy SEN
14 April 2026Death, taxes and weekly discussions on the future of Port Adelaide star Zak Butters (umpire saga aside).
But could one club be preparing to offer the biggest contract in league history for the 25-year-old who is set to become the most in-demand free agent at the end of the season.
While some view Geelong and the Western Bulldogs as the top suitors for Butters, the Agenda Setters panel discussed a rumoured offer being prepared by Richmond who, given their current young squad, would be in a position to offer a mouth-watering front-loaded deal.
Craig Hutchison initiated the discussion on Monday night's show suggesting the Tigers could table up to $4.5 million for Butters in year one.
“Well, he’s leaving (Port), that’s clear," Hutchison said. "It’s just a matter of who. I was interested to see the revelations that Richmond has emerged. If they are serious Richmond, they will be unbelievably hard to beat (for Butters' signature).
"Here's a very interesting set of circumstances, Richmond, that no one's ever had in history probably to this degree given the volume of draft picks they bought in. This is how they make a knockout punch.
"Now, let's assume the market's $1.6 (million) to be respectful. Now, I know some are saying it’s $2 million, I think it's about $1.6 million, the market. Seven years feels about right. 26 to 33 years, given the way he plays, it's probably reckless to offer anything longer than that.
"The Tigers have got a five-year strategy that involves a flag, that's a period of time they think they'll come good in. And they've got all this talent, they've got all these, first round draft picks that aren't being paid much.
"Captain day one for me I think. He’s the right leader. Don't wait, similar to Chris Judd at Carlton in you come and lead the team, and I'm sure Nank (Toby Nankervis) can hand it over.
"Elite draft picks they got now are all on the smaller pay scale. Now, this whole game here is get Zak and pay as much money as you can physically cope with and handle in the first two years, to get that money out of the way before the talent matures."
Nick Riewoldt: “Four and a half (million) in year one!”
Hutchison added: “This is the way I would construct it. $4.5 million in year one, which is double any player has ever received in a year. $2.3 million in year two and $2 million in year three. You've got to move that money out and early in the $18 million salary cap, which will grow in that time, as well.
"Then you're left with your window. So, years four and five is where their strategy matures. You would think they're going to have some, not all, of Taj Hotton in here, and Josh Smillie, they're not all going to be million-dollar players, but some of them are, some of them are going to be million-dollar players by then. And you've got to be able to get the money out, so that's still the $1.6 million average, but it clears the money out at a time which suits Zak.
"It'd be very hard to say no to if you're looking at that money, and your pitch is, you're going to captain that next premiership, and here's the pieces we put around you. You tell me he wouldn't look at that seriously?”
Riewoldt continued: “Absolutely you’d look at it seriously. You'd have to buy into the fact that Richmond are on the right track. The other attractive part of that, from a Richmond point of view, is you de-risk yourself later in his career, given the combative way that he plays. You're not on the hook for a massive number.”
Caroline Wilson: “It takes a special sort of player to be captained on day one.”
Kane Cornes: “Oh, no, he can do that. But if I were for Richmond, that's a great case, Richmond, beautiful, no worries, I'd do that. But you've got to say to Butters you’re going to a club on $1.6 million that’s won five games in the last two years, you could get more to go to a contender.
"So, it works for Richmond, great case for Richmond, beautiful, no worries they’d do that deal, but you’ve got to sell to Butters you’re not going to win a game for the next 3-4 years.”
Hutchison: “I think they're going to come on much better than that.”
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/04/14/afl-trade-talk-zak-butters-to-richmond-how-much
