Trade talk, rumours & innuendo 2026

[ajGreen]

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.

They do have to match the exact terms in real money terms but it doesn't have to be included in the salary cap. Is my understanding.

Load of rubbish rules.

[ajGreen]

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

Might be waiting a long time to pull the trigger if that's the plan.

It's very risky in our current state cause Drever sounds like a gun and hvh is mountain

However in a top ten player wants to come big call saying no

[Hard Roar Tiger]

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.

Lads, we are stuffed. The club is screwed and needs a circuit breaker. I’d rather Butters than another injury riddled draft pick.

[Hard Roar Tiger]

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.

So true.

[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.

They do have to match the exact terms in real money terms but it doesn't have to be included in the salary cap. Is my understanding.

Load of rubbish rules.

Yeah they absolutely have to match the total salary offered. The point I was trying to make was that they don’t have to match the structure of it. As in if the reports are that we are front ending the deal so heavily to the point where he will be making 4mil a year in the first couple of years are true, it would be impossible for Port to match. That’s why I was thinking it was bs that they would match. But all they have to do is match the total offer of 2ish mil over how ever many years. Still a crazy amount but I guess it is becoming the new norm given the amount of clubs willing/able to get to around there.

[ajGreen]

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.

They do have to match the exact terms in real money terms but it doesn't have to be included in the salary cap. Is my understanding.

Load of rubbish rules.

Yeah they absolutely have to match the total salary offered. The point I was trying to make was that they don’t have to match the structure of it. As in if the reports are that we are front ending the deal so heavily to the point where he will be making 4mil a year in the first couple of years are true, it would be impossible for Port to match. That’s why I was thinking it was bs that they would match. But all they have to do is match the total offer of 2ish mil over how ever many years. Still a crazy amount but I guess it is becoming the new norm given the amount of clubs willing/able to get to around there.

I believe they do have to match the structure.

They'd have to give him four million dollars next year of actually money.

But .. they are allowed to smooth it,  in terms of the salary cap.

So it's 4 into his bank but on the books 2+2+2

[one-eyed]

ZAK Butters rushing back to playing the final game of the 2026 season would contend with Nigel Smart's 1992 barefoot stroll across hot coals as the dumbest act by an Adelaide-based footballer.

Butters has up to $16 million reasons to not play for Port again this year, with that money spread over eight seasons among the offers that have been thrown his way by Richmond, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs and Geelong.

Those four clubs would be closely monitoring Butters' desire to recover from the foot injury sustained in round 18 in time to return for round 24. It would not surprise me if all four clubs had already contacted his management to say: "Tell Zak he is not to play again this year. All bets might be off if he does."

Imagine he was to play, and re-injure the foot or sustain another serious injury.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1582943

[one-eyed]

There is a general consensus between the Giants and Jesse Hogan around a move for 2027 and beyond.

Richmond are intensely pursuing him and are considered to be the early front runners.

https://x.com/An6u3Media/status/2087121180977471921
https://www.instagram.com/p/Db5aBR-vI65/

[one-eyed]

Jon Ralph on the Midweek Tackle last night discussing us and Butters.

Jon Ralph: "There are list bosses today who will tell you Richmond are in the box seat for Zak Butters. It seems preposterous to me. It seems preposterous given he is a Bulldogs fan who loves Marcus Bontempelli who lives so close to Whitten Oval. Their view is what Zak Butters has said to Port Adelaide is you need to win from this deal. You won't win from a deal from Geelong, Collingwood or even the Western Bulldogs. So of course he has said I will assuage my guilt by getting to a club like Richmond. Now of course that is also the Port Adelaide narrative because they want these other clubs to pony up. But the Tigers will give up pick 2 and more for Butters in a heartbeat.

Glenn MacFarlane: "If he did that would he be backing in Richmond's young list? He's obviously put in a lot of thought into this process and backing them in to come good in 2-3 years."

Jon Ralph: "He's not a 28 year old free agent. He's 26 and has 7-8 years ahead of him. How do you think the Bulldogs will be any better?"

https://kayosports.com.au/en-AU/show/Competition:08nztp2o8dds71mlo8tuqvgfhi

[Assange Tiger 😎]

Jesse Hogan yes please

[Wazza]

This will be interesting in how it all plays out for sure. I'm a bit torn about spending so much $$$ on one player when we could target 2 very good players. But at the same time, if there is a player like butters on the list with good youth around him, will that make Richmond a team that other players would consider moving to again, which then gives us a better opportunity to pick and choose other talent as we see fit?
Time will tell ?

[pmac21]

Why would we keep Tom Lynch then go after Hogan?
Doesn't make sense to me. 
But t I have always liked him as a player

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Why would we keep Tom Lynch then go after Hogan?
Doesn't make sense to me. 
But t I have always liked him as a player

I do get your point but we only score about 9 goals per game.
We need all the help we can get

That coupled with Tom Lynch’s lack of reliability means we are probably needing a chop out

[Tiger Khosh]

Why would we keep Tom Lynch then go after Hogan?
Doesn't make sense to me. 
But t I have always liked him as a player

I do get your point but we only score about 9 goals per game.
We need all the help we can get

That coupled with Tom Lynch’s lack of reliability means we are probably needing a chop out

Hogans body looks shot too. Maybe btw the 2 of them we can get a seasons worth of games to support the young fellas.

[Andyy]

If Hogan is healthy enough, I am keen.

As for Butters and the FA deal, you would think the total contract value over time is what matters, not the pay structure.

Otherwise any low-end team would just offer $3-4m in the first year so nobody can ever match it and every team would lose the UFA's.

Port matching an offer means they'll have to work it out over 8 years and that makes sense IMO.