AFL Trade: Victorian Giant Enters Race for Superstar Connor Butters

Richmond has entered the pursuit of Port Adelaide midfielder Zak Butters, with the club prepared to offer a contract that could become the largest in the history of the AFL.

The Tigers are understood to be willing to offer a deal valued at nearly $2 million per season for a term of at least eight years to lure the 25-year-old superstar to Punt Road.

Butters has been strongly linked to the Western Bulldogs and Geelong for nearly a year as he considers his future. While the Western Bulldogs are viewed as a frontrunner because Butters grew up supporting the club, Richmond has now positioned itself as a major contender in the race.

Richmond’s Financial Strategy

To facilitate such a significant offer, Richmond managed its salary cap throughout 2025 and 2026. This strategy allows the club to utilize under-spend rules to bank cap space, which can then be used aggressively to acquire elite talent to accelerate their rebuild.

The club is also capable of front-ending any major deal, a move often used as an incentive for players. This aggressive approach to the player market has been endorsed by chief executive Shane Dunne and coach Adem Yze, who both indicated the club was ready to attack the market in 2026.

The Tigers have spent the previous two off-seasons accumulating youth, securing nine top-30 draft picks. To attract Butters, the club has highlighted its upgraded facilities at Punt Road, its metropolitan location, and its history of flag success.

Trade Leverage and Competition

Despite the interest from Victorian clubs, Port Adelaide holds significant leverage. Butters is a restricted free agent, meaning the Power have the right to match any offer sheet presented to them.

Port Adelaide has reportedly informed Victorian clubs that it will match any offer presented to Butters. Such a move would force any interested team to enter a formal trade negotiation, potentially making this one of the most expensive acquisitions in the history of the game.

The financial scale of the bidding war is expected to push the player’s earnings to approximately $2 million per season. This represents a massive increase compared to other elite contracts. for example, Charlie Curnow’s five-year contract with Carlton is reportedly around $1 million per season.

Market Landscape

While Richmond, the Western Bulldogs, and Geelong are active in the pursuit, other Victorian giants have been sidelined. Reports indicate that Carlton and Collingwood have been rejected in the race for the Port Adelaide superstar.

The cost of acquiring Butters may prove prohibitive for some teams. A club like the Western Bulldogs may be required to provide a substantial trade package—similar to the one Sydney provided to Carlton for Charlie Curnow, which included three first-round picks and forward Will Hayward—while simultaneously paying a salary that is $1 million per season higher than Curnow’s.

Richmond’s leadership has pointed to the club’s successful targeting of players between 2016 and 2019 as evidence of their ability to execute strategic raids on rival clubs during critical windows of their development.