Trade talk, rumours & innuendo 2026

[ajGreen]

So we are too old and too young. To add a 25 year old top 10 player. Curious.

This raises some questions.

[the claw]

So we are too old and too young. To add a 25 year old top 10 player. Curious.

This raises some questions.

You can take out of it what you want.

How long before you think we can be a legitimate threat? What do you think about our mid tier as far as numbers and quality go.
Its the mid tier that will determine if we have a quick rise up the ladder not the juniors who have to be given plenty of time.

As far as the age or number of players we have in the prime age group and with experience to go with it, we are stone motherless last.
Look at the quality in this group as well and you think we are gunna play finals.
This will not be a quick fix

If you were Butters and chasing success would you want to leave it until your in your 30"s? to win a flag, because that is the realistic time frame if he comes to us.

When Smillie Cumming Hotton Lalor and most of the other juniors get to 100 games or should i say IF they get to 100 games or so then you can go and get a player like Butters.
We need our juniors to become our core group and with so many poor mid tier players and the vets all going soon the amount of good players needed goes way beyond just bringing in Butters.

Imo anyone wanting success in the few years are just plain impatient and ignorant of just how long it takes.

[ajGreen]

Does it matter how lalor and friends get to this magical 80 games mark?

Will it fool their progression getting battered by ten goals for the next three years?

How do you envision spending this required 17.5 million dollars next season.

[Hard Roar Tiger]

So we are too old and too young. To add a 25 year old top 10 player. Curious.

This raises some questions.

You can take out of it what you want.

How long before you think we can be a legitimate threat? What do you think about our mid tier as far as numbers and quality go.
Its the mid tier that will determine if we have a quick rise up the ladder not the juniors who have to be given plenty of time.

As far as the age or number of players we have in the prime age group and with experience to go with it, we are stone motherless last.
Look at the quality in this group as well and you think we are gunna play finals.
This will not be a quick fix

If you were Butters and chasing success would you want to leave it until your in your 30"s? to win a flag, because that is the realistic time frame if he comes to us.

When Smillie Cumming Hotton Lalor and most of the other juniors get to 100 games or should i say IF they get to 100 games or so then you can go and get a player like Butters.
We need our juniors to become our core group and with so many poor mid tier players and the vets all going soon the amount of good players needed goes way beyond just bringing in Butters.

Imo anyone wanting success in the few years are just plain impatient and ignorant of just how long it takes.

I agree with AJ. You claim to know “how long it takes” and yet your were the one whinging about our list and trumpeting Melbourne’s list when we were busily watching our list win multiple flags.

[one-eyed]

Mitch Cleary is today claiming Geelong is now the favourite to get Butters.



https://omny.fm/shows/the-rub/mitch-cleary-reveals-the-new-favourite-to-land-zak-butters

https://x.com/7AFL/status/2088852396420018280

https://x.com/7AFL/status/2088801366236147919

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

FRESH BUTTERS UPDATE AS FRONTRUNNER EMERGES

There’s reportedly a “new favourite” in the race for Zak Butters.

The Western Bulldogs had long been considered the leading candidate to land his signature, while Geelong has been in the hunt, and Richmond and Collingwood have lobbed lucrative offers.

However, after months of speculation about which club, if any, was ahead of the pack, Seven’s Mitch Cleary now reports Geelong has surged to the front.

“For 12-18 months, I’ve had (the Bulldogs) as favourites — I think there’s a new favourite now, and it’s the Geelong Football Club,” Cleary said on Sunday.

“They are coming with a rush, the Cats — there’s growing confidence down the highway that they’ll be able to secure Zak Butters.

“I’m not saying the Bulldogs are out of the race; I’m not putting a line through Collingwood or Richmond.

“But the Cats are coming hard for Zak Butters, and there is confidence growing.”

It comes days after the revelation that the Magpies had offered a club-record deal in the vicinity of $14 million over eight years.

The Tigers have had a well-documented offer on the table totalling roughly $18 million, while the Dogs have the emotional connection to Butters as his childhood club, and the Cats boast the allure of perpetual flag contention.

The superstar midfielder — long touted to depart Alberton after eight years — has maintained all year long he’ll wait until the end of the season to make his free agency call.

But as a restricted free agent, it’s expected that Port Adelaide will match any contending offer sheet, forcing a trade.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-trade-news-rumours-2026-geelong-cats-new-frontrunner-for-zak-butters-western-bulldogs-richmond-ollie-hollands/news-story/d1a7aab96c43c768e3b3656ee2eb7a97

[Hart4Jack]

Mitch Cleary is today claiming Geelong is now the favourite to get Butters.



https://omny.fm/shows/the-rub/mitch-cleary-reveals-the-new-favourite-to-land-zak-butters

https://x.com/7AFL/status/2088852396420018280

https://x.com/7AFL/status/2088801366236147919

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

FRESH BUTTERS UPDATE AS FRONTRUNNER EMERGES

There’s reportedly a “new favourite” in the race for Zak Butters.

The Western Bulldogs had long been considered the leading candidate to land his signature, while Geelong has been in the hunt, and Richmond and Collingwood have lobbed lucrative offers.

However, after months of speculation about which club, if any, was ahead of the pack, Seven’s Mitch Cleary now reports Geelong has surged to the front.

“For 12-18 months, I’ve had (the Bulldogs) as favourites — I think there’s a new favourite now, and it’s the Geelong Football Club,” Cleary said on Sunday.

“They are coming with a rush, the Cats — there’s growing confidence down the highway that they’ll be able to secure Zak Butters.

“I’m not saying the Bulldogs are out of the race; I’m not putting a line through Collingwood or Richmond.

“But the Cats are coming hard for Zak Butters, and there is confidence growing.”

It comes days after the revelation that the Magpies had offered a club-record deal in the vicinity of $14 million over eight years.

The Tigers have had a well-documented offer on the table totalling roughly $18 million, while the Dogs have the emotional connection to Butters as his childhood club, and the Cats boast the allure of perpetual flag contention.

The superstar midfielder — long touted to depart Alberton after eight years — has maintained all year long he’ll wait until the end of the season to make his free agency call.

But as a restricted free agent, it’s expected that Port Adelaide will match any contending offer sheet, forcing a trade.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-trade-news-rumours-2026-geelong-cats-new-frontrunner-for-zak-butters-western-bulldogs-richmond-ollie-hollands/news-story/d1a7aab96c43c768e3b3656ee2eb7a97

I would think that 16 other clubs would just about mutiny if that happened.

[one-eyed]

Jay Clark has also joined in.

"Geelong has jumped into the box seat for Zak Butters"

https://x.com/FOXFOOTY/status/2088946658017161698

[TigerLand]

Geelong couldn't possibly afford a trade.

[MintOnLamb]

I know where I would go if I was Butters, anywhere but RFC or Essendon

[Go Richo 12]

Geelong couldn't possibly afford a trade.

Nor have the necessary draft capital when the officer is matched.

[Hard Roar Tiger]

I know where I would go if I was Butters, anywhere but RFC or Essendon

Yep. We are a joke.

[the claw]

So we are too old and too young. To add a 25 year old top 10 player. Curious.

This raises some questions.

You can take out of it what you want.

How long before you think we can be a legitimate threat? What do you think about our mid tier as far as numbers and quality go.
Its the mid tier that will determine if we have a quick rise up the ladder not the juniors who have to be given plenty of time.

As far as the age or number of players we have in the prime age group and with experience to go with it, we are stone motherless last.
Look at the quality in this group as well and you think we are gunna play finals.
This will not be a quick fix

If you were Butters and chasing success would you want to leave it until your in your 30"s? to win a flag, because that is the realistic time frame if he comes to us.

When Smillie Cumming Hotton Lalor and most of the other juniors get to 100 games or should i say IF they get to 100 games or so then you can go and get a player like Butters.
We need our juniors to become our core group and with so many poor mid tier players and the vets all going soon the amount of good players needed goes way beyond just bringing in Butters.

Imo anyone wanting success in the few years are just plain impatient and ignorant of just how long it takes.

I agree with AJ. You claim to know “how long it takes” and yet your were the one whinging about our list and trumpeting Melbourne’s list when we were busily watching our list win multiple flags.

Im not claiming anything. Im looking at the  the numbers  and telling everyone what those numbers say.  the vast majority of teams who genuinely challenge for flags fit those numbers.
Why do you think we are any different.

I have to laugh i dont think anyone complained while we were winning flags but idid say we were doing nothing about  succession.
Look where that has got us.

You know how long it took us to win a flag with the players we had. iT WAS 12 YEARS.  Riewoldt, Edwards 06 to Nankervis, Prestia, Caddy in 2016.
Our 2017 team had 11 players with over 100 games it had 15 players aged 24 - 29 it had others aged 23 like vlastuin with 96 games.
Don't be ignorant go look at all other sides who play in a g/f the vast majority  would fall into these age games categories.

It may not be exact like most things in footy arent but if we are trying to determine where you have to get to to challenge id say they damn well give you a good idea.

Finally and yes i thought Melbourne were coming it just took a bit longer than i anticipated they won in 2021 lol.
surprise surprise their g/f team had 14 players in the 24=29 age bracket and 14 had played 100 plus games.

Look if your upset about the numbers being shown fine have a hissy fit but dont take it out on me im just pointing out the obvious.

[one-eyed]

Bailey Humphrey has knocked back rival interest and signed a new deal to stay at Gold Coast.

AFL.com.au's Cal Twomey has reported the Victorian has recommitted to the Suns until the end of 2030.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1589004/gold-coast-suns-young-gun-bailey-humphrey-makes-massive-contract-call-amid-rival-interest-from-melbourne-and-hawthorn

[one-eyed]

"He left four or five off, just to make his Richmond point!" ?

Luke Beveridge believes the Bulldogs' list has the young talent to attract players like Zak Butters - and has a little jab for Jack Riewoldt's call about the Tigers being well-placed... #AFL360

https://x.com/FOXFOOTY/status/2089288525770600830
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/western-bulldogs/afl-2026-luke-beveridge-on-zak-butters-geelong-is-the-new-frontrunner-for-zak-butters-free-agency-race-details-trade-news-rumours-whispers-latest-news/news-story/faf050d4654451f3a9d119d0865b79ad

[one-eyed]

Tiger71 from Tigercast posted this on X/twitter last night:

"Relax Tiger family. Nothing changed. Its the same as when Twomey call Lynch a lock to the pies a week out before he signed with us, ditto Prestia to Melbourne a week out, ditto Hopper to Cats and Tarranto to pies locked in 2 weeks out. My source has confirmed nothings changed"

https://x.com/Tiger7192926603/status/2089296071302562164