Trade talk, rumours & innuendo 2026

[one-eyed]

‘GROUNDHOG DAY’ FOR BEVO IN BUTTERS WORRY... AND GREATS ARE BACKING DARK HORSE

Zak Butters, are you watching?

Because if the supposedly Bulldogs-bound superstar tuned in on Thursday night, he’d surely have questions.

The Bulldogs, for ages, it seems, have been considered the out-and-out frontrunner in the race for the Power ace.

But with Geelong continuing its winning run, the money and long-term promise on offer at Richmond, and Collingwood looming, which way Butters is leaning is anyone’s punt.

But the Tigers, armed with their cash war chest and suite of highly-touted youngsters, continue to linger as the dark horse Butters suitor.

It’s been in the pipeline for months that Richmond has reportedly offered Butters as much as $18 million over eight years to commit to Tigerland.

Injuries have meant Adem Yze hasn’t been able to get the best out of his wunderkinds just yet, with Jonty Faull, Harry Armstrong, Tom Sims and Josh Smillie all cruelled this season.

But Sam Lalor alone is a drawcard, while Taj Hotton looks like the second-coming of Shane Edwards mixed with Shai Bolton.

And after toppling West Coast and coming mightily close to upsetting Adelaide on Saturday night, the Richmond arrow is starting to point back up.

“I think Zak, or any other player, would be looking at the performance over the last two weeks going, ‘maybe the tide is turning’,” triple Tigers premiership forward Jack Riewoldt said.

“Obviously, injuries have been the biggest issue for the Tigers this year, and it’s not just their ability to put a side out on the park; it affects training during the week and how many numbers you’ve got on the track.

“I know that they’re in full attracting talent (mode) now.

“They’ve been on the draft route a couple of times now, and they’ve got all those first-round draft picks.

“Now, they need to start securing some top-end talent to come in and lead this club.”

Adelaide legend Mark Ricciuto declared that if he were Butters, he’d be choosing Richmond over the Dogs and Cats.

“If you believe what you hear with the numbers and opportunities he’s got from the clubs, I think, long-term, I’d go to Richmond,” Ricciuto said.

“The offer’s there, they’ve got improvement, and I reckon they’ll be a good side in three years.

“You couldn’t guarantee that with a few of the other clubs that are putting their hands up.”

Riewoldt added: “In the cold, hard light of day, can you imagine if he went to Geelong, with everything that’s happening in the current landscape involving Geelong?

“And watching the Bulldogs the other night … I think Richmond is the destination for Zak Butters.

“They’re the club, they’ve got the high-end talent there, they’ve still got some good players like Tim Taranto around them.

“I really do believe that. I think it clicks, and once they get games into their young kids … Josh Smillie is a first-round draft pick who we haven’t even seen in two years.

“That will be the thing that I think Zak will be looking at, going, ‘not where am I going to win one next year, where can I potentially win one in the next five years?’

“I think Richmond are massively in the hunt … especially after tonight’s performance.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2026-round-22-talking-points-afl-commission-chair-craig-drummond-told-to-consider-quitting-over-jake-kolodjashnij-geelong-concussion-scandal-melbourne-accidental-flag-contender/news-story/05b08a5f57cf3530006e78422736e23f

[one-eyed]

Pies make bold play for Port superstar with club-record offer

By Callum Twomey
afl.com.au
Aug 10, 2026

Chasing rival clubs estimate the Pies' bid to be around the $1.8 million a year mark over at least eight years.

Richmond's offer for Butters has long been viewed as the most lucrative option, with the Cats and Bulldogs also strongly pursuing the three-time best-and-fairest winner.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1582397/collingwood-magpies-make-bold-play-for-port-adelaide-power-superstar-zak-butters-with-club-record-offer

[Francois Jackson]

We need to move on from this topic. He won't be coming to punt road.

I hope our club has other options because they have failed so far in just about anything off field in recent times.

[camboon]

If Collingwood are offering similar money to us it’s likely he will go there. Not a bad result as it will chew out a lot of their salary cap and make it hard for them to target other players.

[Andyy]

We've offered $18m for 8 years

They're offering $14.4m for 8 years

It's plenty of money more for us, but you'd think something he could absorb and live with if he took the lesser lol

[pmac21]

We need to move on from this topic. He won't be coming to punt road.

I hope our club has other options because they have failed so far in just about anything off field in recent times.

Is there inside info on this?

[Francois Jackson]

Yeah Andy take out 50% tax and also front load so he gets to recoup that 2 mil lost earnings quicker.

What annoys me is they will get the job done with lesser picks. Literally a pick 10 from this years draft, and next years picks won't count for much with tassy etc

If he had chosen us which he won't, then we would have to offload plenty.

[Damo]

If we give up pick 2 for him , which would also cost the compo pick , we are kidding .. especially factoring in the contract .. let him be someone else’s problem

Let them cop the free agency compo, don’t bid on Cochrane , give them some future picks

Otherwise FO

[georgies31]

If we give up pick 2 for him , which would also cost the compo pick , we are kidding .. especially factoring in the contract .. let him be someone else’s problem

Let them cop the free agency compo, don’t bid on Cochrane , give them some future picks

Otherwise FO

That's my issue pick 2 and lose the compo pick and will be giving something else up. We're giving up the farm keep in mind this happens it's practically 3 drafts with Tassie coming in withstood talentin. That's the complete wrong strategy for a rebuilding side especially after this season.

[one-eyed]

Tigers great Jack Riewoldt has declared his firm belief to be that Richmond is leading the way for Zak Butters’ signature.

“That [young] group there is the nucleus of the next dynasty …”



#OnTheCouch, Jack Riewoldt makes a big call over Richmond’s youth while dubbing his former club the “frontrunner” for Zak Butters.

VIDEO: https://x.com/FOXFOOTY/status/2086971298983580093

-----------------------

‘Long-term view’: Great’s Butters call… and why one club is best placed in scary ‘dynasty’ reality

Jack Jovanovski
Fox Sports
August 11th, 2026

A three-time Richmond premiership great believes his former club is Zak Butters’ best long-term bet at success.

It comes as Collingwood makes its latest play in the four-club race for the superstar’s signature, with decision time nearing.

It was revealed on Monday that the Magpies lobbed a club-record deal to Butters, thought by rivals to be in the range of $1.8 million per year.

Collingwood and the Tigers are competing with the Western Bulldogs and Geelong in the chase, with Butters heavily expected to depart Port Adelaide for his home state this offseason.

Tigers champion Jack Riewoldt delved into Butters’ thought process regarding timelines around premiership success.

“From what I’ve heard, Butters watches footy closely and has a long-term view on what his next step looks like,” he began on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.

“I think about him looking at the Bulldogs the other night, and I know there’s no Sam Darcy at the moment, (but) it gets me thinking about what’s in the forefront of Butters’ mind.

“Is he in the game to win a premiership next year? More than likely, he’s going to sign an eight-year deal at whichever club he ends up at.

“And I just wonder whether it (his thinking) is ‘next year, I need to win a premiership’, or ‘what does the next five to eight years look like?’”

And it’s through that lens that Riewoldt believes Richmond is the most plausible landing spot.

“I think an exercise Butters is looking at is where is the happiest happiest hunting ground in the next eight years?” he continued.

“And you automatically look at your under-22 players on each list.

“With the draft and the way it happens — I think Tasmania is a huge curveball in this — Richmond is the only side which currently sits above Port Adelaide in the draft order.

“And with young Dougie Cochrane coming through … it makes it an interesting discussion, that I think Richmond, with that list of young players … they are the frontrunner for Zak Butters at the moment.”

Richmond hasn’t been able to get games into as many of its highly-touted 2024 draftees due to injury, with former No.7 pick Josh Smillie yet to debut.

Tom Sims also hasn’t played this year, while Sam Lalor, Jonty Faull, Taj Hotton, Luke Trainor and Harry Armstrong have all played 10 games or less.

But Riewoldt believes in the long-term potency of that group, emphasising that the “nucleus” of the club’s next great run of success is in place.

“Richmond aren’t going to win the premiership next year; they’re probably not going to win a flag in the next two years, but that group there is the nucleus of the next dynasty for the Richmond Football Club,” he declared.

“And I think Zak Butters is the driver and potentially the captain.

“They clearly went to the draft table and took seven first-round picks two years ago, because that’s what you build a nucleus around.”

Lions great Jonathan Brown challenged Riewoldt’s viewpoint that the Tigers could begin to challenge in the next few years.

“Just because Richmond ran close the other night, they’re at least four or five years away from contending around finals,” Brown said.

“Do you honestly think that team is going to be contending for a premiership in the next three to four years, which Butters will be looking for?

“Richmond doesn’t have any experienced campaigners whatsoever.”

Riewoldt replied: “Exactly why they need to access talent like Zak Butters, and next year will be a big year for the Tigers as well, to go hand in hand with that generational talent.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-trade-news-rumours-2026-jack-riewoldt-says-zak-butters-should-pick-richmond-tigers-free-agency-decision-collingwood-offer/news-story/6d4c24dff72e23660a67ee64bcae418b

[Tiger Khosh]

You can’t just declare players the nucleus of the next dynasty because they are young and high end draft picks. 1 of those players hasn’t even played a game lol

[Chuck17]

Plus Ill be stuffed if that list has the same quality as Dusty, Cotch, Riewoldt and Rance

[one-eyed]

Port Adelaide coach Josh Carr has confirmed the Power will match any free agency bid on Zak Butters this off-season.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2026/03/19/afl-2026-zak-butters-free-agency-port-adelaide-bid-match-western-bulldogs

[Tiger Khosh]

Just read that they don’t have to match the exact terms of the offer just the overall total deal, so front ending the deal won’t benefit us in that regard.

I truly hope the club aren’t prepared to give up our first pick this year and next. I can’t imagine port accepting anything less than that.

I’d much rather hold onto pick 2 this year and what will likely be pick one of pick 2/4/6 next year.

There will be big name free agents we can actually get as free agents without giving up anything next year and beyond. It’s not just butters or bust. Go to the draft and target mature bodies we can get with 3rd/4th rounders.

[pmac21]

Meanwhile Dees are meeting with Calsher Dear. 
I hope were targeting him