The inside story on the Western Bulldogs’ pitch that convinced Zak Butters to choose them over Cats, TigersThe Western Bulldogs have won an intense, three-horse race for Zak Butters’ services. Scott Gullan has the inside story on what separated the Dogs’ pitch from the Cats’ and Tigers’.
Scott Gullan
HeraldSun
September 13, 2026 The Western Bulldogs tugged at Zak Butters’ heartstrings, emphasising how important he was as a role model to the kids of the western suburbs.
And ultimately the chance to follow his childhood dream was enough to see him commit to the red, white and blue.
When Port Adelaide visited him at his Bacchus Marsh home back in 2018, he had posters of Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli on his bedroom wall.
He loved the club that represented the west and in the end when the financial offers between Geelong and the Bulldogs were in the same ballpark, the Power star followed his heart.
But for a number of times over the past couple of months that hasn’t been the way.
“At different times everyone has been in front,” was how a member of the Butters’ camp described the battle for his services.
There was a sense it wasn’t until the Bulldogs “got real” over the last couple of weeks, increasing their financial offer – by this stage Richmond had inserted itself into the equation with a crazy $18-$19 million offer – and importantly being able to articulate how the deal could get the deal done that they edged their way back in front.This was at the urging of coach Luke Beveridge who understood the importance more than anyone to get the superstar midfielder to the Whitten Oval.
It’s not too far of a stretch to say he realised that his short-term job security potentially hung on whether they could get Butters or not.
Key club officials took their improved strategy to the Bulldogs board and explained what was required to secure Butters, gaining the powerbrokers’ approval for the “all-in” approach: a nine-year deal that will be the biggest in the club’s history.
In the end the winning move by the Dogs was they were able to convince Butters they could get the deal done.
The last thing the Port star wanted to happen was to be left hanging like Essendon’s Zach Merrett or St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall, who failed to get to Geelong last year, even though his situation was different given he was coming out-of-contract.
He needed to be convinced a fair deal could be done with Port who he was determined to make sure they were looked after given how much he loved the club.
It’s understood he felt Geelong weren’t as clear in the pathway to getting him to GMHBA Stadium through next month’s trade period compared to the Bulldogs.
What the deal will ultimately look out will take a lot of sorting and speculation around the No. 5 draft pick the Power will get in free agency compensation for Butters leaving.
A lot of small things helped the Bulldogs.
Butters, 26, got the chance to play with Bontempelli and Ed Richards at this year’s State of Origin game and loved every minute of it.
The signing of Buku Khamis this week wasn’t just a good thing for the Dogs defence but significant in the Butters’ equation given the pair had gone to school together and remained good friends.
There was also a close relationship with forward Rhylee West which helped the situation.
The Bulldogs standing firm on All-Australian ruckman Tim English was also an important flag in the ground as they wanted to project stability to Butters.
And with Adelaide’s Jordon Butts set to come in to bolster the defence and rising superstar Sam Darcy returning from injury, it was easy for Butters to see that the Western Bulldogs were capable of elevating into a legitimate premiership threat.
Significantly Butters found himself at Tom Liberatore’s Seddon pub, the Mona Castle, with friends on Friday night as he watched Geelong fall to Fremantle in an epic semi-final.
He’d already decided he was moving just down the road to the Whitten Oval so for the boy whose heart has always been in the west, a couple of beers with the locals was the perfect celebration.
https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/the-inside-story-on-the-western-bulldogs-pitch-that-convinced-zak-butters-to-choose-them-over-cats-tigers/news-story/65a719a723f2480228130d9d4f4c7ce1
