Richmond not ruling out last-minute Zak Butters playMitch Keating
zerohanger.com
October 5, 2026 Richmond list manager Blair Hartley hasn't shut down a last-minute move for wantaway Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters as talks between the Power and the Western Bulldogs - Butters' desired landing spot - continue.
Richmond, along with Geelong, were also in the race for Butters' signature; however, the Power midfielder opted to elect the team he followed as a kid.
Discussions between the Power and the Dogs remain ongoing, with Dogs list boss Michael Regan noting those discussions are heading in the right direction.
However, with talks likely to extend late into the week, potentially sparking some uncertainty around whether both sides of the negotiations will be appeased, Richmond remains in the loop.
"We were just joking before. I think I've probably spoken to Jason more than my wife this year," Hartley said.
"We obviously get along well. We've worked together before. I've been speaking with him throughout the course of this year.
"Everything's still live. It's day one of the trade period."
Port Adelaide list boss Jason Cripps said the club wants to "avoid" a situation where they look beyond the Western Bulldogs, believing the club understands what the Power expect in return for their star player.
"(Butters is) clearly our best player and he's one of the best players in the competition," Cripps said.
"I'm not going to lie. I would rather be standing here and dealing with a team that's closer to the bottom of the ladder.
"Clearly, we'll do our best to facilitate the best outcome for us with the Western Bulldogs, but it could have been a lot worse.
"I've had a lot of conversations with Blair Hartley over the journey, and we're pretty close. We want to avoid that.
"We've had enough conversations with the Western Bulldogs for them to have a really clear understanding of what our expectations are, and they're getting to work."
The Power will decide to either not match the Bulldogs' free agency offer and therefore pocket Pick 5 as compensation, or force a trade and see the Dogs package a deal to secure the midfielder.
There is a reality where the Power take the compensation before looking to secure a separate trade deal with the Dogs - a play that will be closely watched by the AFL.
The Western Bulldogs hold Picks 12, 31 and 53 for this year's AFL Draft, as well as all of their selections for the 2027 and 2028 drafts.
Richmond, meanwhile, possesses Pick 2, as well as selections 20, 42 and 61 for next month's count.
https://www.zerohanger.com/richmond-not-ruling-out-last-minute-zak-butters-play-afl-trade-news-183475/
