Trade talk, rumours & innuendo 2026

[Damo]

All the equalisation stuff with FA compo etc.

I'll die on the hill that the bottom 10 clubs should get 2 shots at the top 20 players in the draft.

Make is much easier and quicker to rebuild through the draft and the FA issue of pillaging best players from lower teams isn't an issue.

If Port lose Butters and get pick 5 compo. They have pick 4 but after pick 10, picks 11 to 20 should be teams bottom of ladder 2nd pick. So Port would also have Pick 14.

I'll die on the hill that this would drastically even up the comp.

Lot of death on the hill

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Butters to nominate Geelong imminently

You really got to stop posting about stuff you clearly have no idea about ?

Yeah, he’s going to Richmond 

[one-eyed]

Exclusive - Zak Butters has nominated the Western Bulldogs as his preferred new home.

The Dogs have won the battle for their new son of the west. The Port Adelaide free agent wants to be a Bulldog.


https://x.com/CalTwomey/status/2098558980583010502
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1608030

[ajGreen]

Gg

[Andyy]

Exclusive - Zak Butters has nominated the Western Bulldogs as his preferred new home.

The Dogs have won the battle for their new son of the west. The Port Adelaide free agent wants to be a Bulldog.


https://x.com/CalTwomey/status/2098558980583010502

Surprised he didn't just nominate last week after they were knocked out.

Butters to nominate Geelong imminently

You really got to stop posting about stuff you clearly have no idea about ?

You should stop posting in general unless you want to talk about footy

[pmac21]

Honestly never thought we were in it. 
Happy to go to the draft

[the claw]

Am i the only one here who actually thinks we should be trading into this draft where possible, rather than chasing so called big fish.

There will be plenty of mature recruits dfa state league types and f/a even a trade or two  available that wont cost much or nothing we can value add and keep taking kids while they are available to us.

Mids like Drever early, but around the other picks we have and if we managed to trde into a couple of picks say 25 thru 35 then other mids like Gale, a quality wing, williams, Knapp, AV=D are projected to fall around the picks we have. A classy medium forward like Patterson would be around the place. Im hoping we use around 8 picks in the draft and there are some real good mature state league players i hope we look at as well.

To do it though you have to be prepared to do the hard yards instead of chasing quick fixes. Its time for the club to cut and cut hard imo.

Look at Briggs we have built some genuine depth and backup with one f/a. This is what we need to do for now.

[Tiger Khosh]

Where’s Tiger71 at with his 99% prediction?

[mightytiges]

Not disappointed. Glad Butters didn't choose the Cats either. IMO we are not at the stage to chase a big fish, especially if it meant giving up pick 2 in the last uncompromised draft before Tassie comes in. We are still 4 years away at least from playing finals as we are still building our new core group. They are still very young and we are still finding out about them. We still don't know who is going to make it or not given all the injuries. Also, once we do make finals, we want a team that will have a long decade run at it like last time (2013-22). That's how you win flags. Not do a quick fix as Carlton did with Judd and go nowhere.

Let's hit the draft and do this rebuild properly. If HVH at pick 2 were to turn into a Luke Jackson, I'll be a very happy boy.

[one-eyed]

It's across the media now.

Bombshell call: Zak Butters nominates the Western Bulldogs

Jake Niall
The Age
September 12, 2026

Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters has nominated the Western Bulldogs as his preferred destination.

The Power confirmed that the club had been informed by Butters of his choice of club, the Dogs beating Geelong for his services provided they can secure him via free agency or a trade.

Port Adelaide will have to decide whether to match the massive, nine-year offer to Butters or force a trade. If they choose not to match, they will receive pick No.5 in the national draft - the selection after Port’s first pick.

Their early draft choices will be needed to match the likely bid at pick No.1 for their academy gun Dougie Cochrane.

Richmond and Collingwood had been the other clubs vying for Butters during this season. Butters, who hails from Darley near Bacchus Marsh, grew up as a Bulldogs fan.

The Bulldogs had recently increased their offer to Butters, which will likely be the biggest in AFL history.

Assuming they can navigate a trade or land the 26-year-old champion via free agency, the arrival of Butters will be a coup for the Bulldogs and their coach Luke Beveridge.

Of the many flow on effects from Butters’ call is that it might make it easier for Geelong to land St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall. The Cats are in the pole position to snare Toby Greene as an unrestricted free agent if he leaves the Giants.

Butters’ decision is a bombshell move that will drastically shape this year’s AFL trade period.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/zak-butters-nominates-the-western-bulldogs-20260912-p60wr5.html

[pmac21]

If Port has 4&5 would they trade them for Pick 2 ie would it be worth their while? 
Probably better for them to trade with Essendon. 
Also if we trade back do we then lose the compensation pick?

[ajGreen]

If Port has 4&5 would they trade them for Pick 2 ie would it be worth their while? 
Probably better for them to trade with Essendon. 
Also if we trade back do we then lose the compensation pick?

Absolutely.

However it seems unlikely port don't match

[Francois Jackson]

buldogs thank god

he must be a smart guy.

[sabartooth]

Give Port Pick 2 and Sonsie we get Picks 4&5.

Win, Win! For Tigers

[mat073]

At least it’s not Geelong.