Trade talk, rumours & innuendo 2026

[pmac21]

The Tigers are also among those keeping a keen eye on Nick Madden. The Giants have offered the 204cm youngster a new multi-year deal after a promising first six games in their AFL side, but it's yet to be signed. @AFLcomau

https://x.com/i/status/2069988290711912626

All reports are a done deal.

[TFL]

The Tigers are also among those keeping a keen eye on Nick Madden. The Giants have offered the 204cm youngster a new multi-year deal after a promising first six games in their AFL side, but it's yet to be signed. @AFLcomau

https://x.com/i/status/2069988290711912626

All reports are a done deal.

Done deal to stay or come to us?

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Done deal to leave and pick up a stress fracture at punt rd

[Tiger Khosh]

Would this really be that great of a pickup? I mean not like we have anyone decent outside of Nank, but this guy was also a rookie pick that has a grand total of 6 afl games to his name.

[Francois Jackson]

absolutely agree with that TK.

While this is a need, the guy has played all of 6 games.  What we need is bachar/ grigg types with 50 games under their belt.

if this is our first priority then we are not going anywhere.

[TigerLand]

Madden is still pretty raw, but he'd be our best ruckman, with all due respect to our skipper, along with Witts the rules have ruined the monster ruckman and Nank being injury prone and 32 soon, I'm unsure how many yards he has left in him.

[one-eyed]

Yze said the mood at the club is good and once again spruiked Punt Rd as a potential new home for someone like Port Adelaide star Zak Butters.

"We're a big footy club in the heart of Melbourne," he said.

"When all of those highly talented players (at Richmond) start to play some games of footy together, it's going to be pretty exciting."

Source: AFL website

[one-eyed]

Trade talk: The three leaders in the race for Butters

By SEN
29 June 2026

The race for Zak Butters has three serious competitors, according to Tom Morris.

The Port Adelaide star’s name is the biggest in trade circles in 2026 with many believing he’ll join the Western Bulldogs.

SEN’s Morris concedes the Dogs are right at the pointy end of the Butters sweepstakes but there are a couple of legitimate contenders who are looming.

“I don’t think the Western Bulldogs are as far out in front as what people are saying,” Morris said on SEN’s Fireball.

“I think it’s a genuine three-horse race between Geelong, Richmond and the Western Bulldogs.”

Morris went through the pros and cons for each of the three clubs.

“The benefits of being at Geelong is you’re likely going to compete on a yearly basis,” he continued.

“You won’t get paid as much as you would elsewhere.

“The Western Bulldogs has the emotional attachment because he grew up a Dogs supporter. We know that he and ‘Bont’ (Marcus Bontempelli) love each other.

“The Dogs have gone really hard and remain confident.

“And then Richmond. If he really wants to look after Port Adelaide, Richmond is the easiest deal to get done when Port matches the bid.

“They have the draft picks and they’ve got all money in the world.”

Kane Cornes interjected: “Of the reasons to leave, I don’t think Port Adelaide getting looked after is at the forefront of his mind.

“It’s an added bonus for him, because he clearly loves the club.

“If he goes to Richmond it’s money, and down the track (they could compete).

“If he goes to the Western Bulldogs it’s for the emotional attachment and there’s a chance they could really compete.

“And if he goes to Geelong it’s not about money, it’s about winning.”

Butters was superb in Port’s massive Showdown win over the Adelaide Crows on Saturday night.

He amassed 37 disposals and 23 contested possessions as well as 13 clearances (five centre clearances), 11 inside 50s, nine score involvements and seven tackles to claim his second Showdown Medal.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/06/28/afl-trade-news-zak-butters-port-adelaide-geelong-richmond-western-bulldogs

[Andyy]

Bet he goes to Geelol for the 'lifestyle' and lands a gig at Morris Finance and 5G Networks.

[TigerLand]

God im of Geelong

Id argue Gelelong the wheel always turns. Scott won't be there forever. Next coach may be a dud. Cameron and Danger are old. So is Stewart. Give me a spell.

[georgies31]

This is a free agency deal with Butters if he decides to come right  ?. If we trade for him I'll be livid and sack all our football department

[Andyy]

Depends if Port can/choose to match. They stand to receive low compensation (not as bad as Buddy/Hawks).

And maybe what Butters insists his future club does for Port.

I wouldn't be trading them 3 1st round picks myself.

[Tiger Khosh]

I wouldn’t be trading them a damn thing.

Surely they can’t offer what we can or at the very least the front ended nature of it.

[the claw]

Madden is still pretty raw, but he'd be our best ruckman, with all due respect to our skipper, along with Witts the rules have ruined the monster ruckman and Nank being injury prone and 32 soon, I'm unsure how many yards he has left in him.

I agree think Madden is exactly what we need. Similar age to nankervis when we drafted him and  just turning 22 would fit in well with all the young blokes we have.

If he comes at a similar cost to Nank job well done. It enables us to have good backup to Nankervis and an obvious heir apparent, enables us to  give Ryan the flick and maybe go for another ruck in the nd.

Nankervis coming in 2016 at age 22 spelt the end of both Maric and Hampson.
Madden coming in may well be the end of Nankervis and Ryan.

Madden and Sims as a fwd/ruck backup combo sounds good to me.

[one-eyed]

GIANTS UP ANTE IN FIGHT TO KEEP IN-DEMAND RUCK

The two-way race for out of contract ruck Nick Madden is heating up, as his current club GWS looks to re-sign the once-Category B product.

Foxfooty.com.au can reveal the Giants are see Madden sign a deal that would lock away the athletic 204cm product for the remainder of the decade.

Adam Kingsley’s club have been fighting off strong interest from Richmond, which foxfooty.com.au first reported in early May.

The Tigers are beginning to plan for what life might look like after Toby Nankervis hangs up the boots, with the club captain turning 32 in August.

Richmond are expected to make at least one more counteroffer for Madden, such is the strength of their interest in the 22-year-old. After being sidelined for the best part of two months with a PCL strain, Madden is a ‘test’ to return to football this weekend.

Fellow Giants ruck Kieran Briggs has been linked loosely to Punt Road.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-trade-latest-2026-update-on-darcy-wilson-out-of-contract-at-st-kilda-saints-nick-madden-links-to-richmond-tigers-offer-from-gws-giants-exclusive-latest-news/news-story/b8aa6233158e5b91224c556810645418