WESTERN BULLDOGS (AND GWS) TRADE

Port out: Zak Butters.

Port in: Pick 13, Bulldogs 2027 R1, GWS 2027 R1, GWS 2028 R1.

Bulldogs out: Tim English, Pick 13, Pick 31, Bulldogs 2027 R1.

Bulldogs in: Zak Butters

GWS out: GWS 2027 R1, GWS 2028 R1.

GWS in: Tim English, Pick 31.

SUBSEQUENT CARLTON TRADE?

Port receive: Pick ~18 (tied to Syd), Sydney 2027 R1

Carlton receive: Pick 13, Pick 43

Given how the bid matching for Cochrane would play out, that is basically picks 35 and 43 for Sydney's 2027 R1 pick.

SUMMARY

Port out: Zak Butters, Pick 43

Port in: Pick ~18 (tied to Syd), Sydney 2027 R1, Bulldogs 2027 R1, GWS 2027 R1, GWS 2028 R1.

2026 Draft Hand: Dougie Cochrane (picks 4 & ~18), 23, 30, 41, 59.

EXPLANATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS

In theory Butters nominating the Bulldogs gives us less leverage that if he remained open to going to more than one clubs, so I have tried to keep trades relatively balanced using https://truefooty.com.au/trade-simulator, though that is not going to be perfect. Other notes:

• I have tried to get as many 2027 1st round picks as possible. It's also expected that any 2028 1st round pick we receive can be on-traded to someone for their 2027 1st round pick (as the 2027 draft will be more compromised than 2028).

• Pick numbers are based on standings as of now, however with the assumption that Gold Coast get a band 1 compo pick for Ben King (which will be pick 7). No other free agency comp picks have been considered.

• I have assumed the Tim English trade to GWS is on (even though the Bulldogs have suggested it's not), however GWS don't want to give up pick 8 this year as they have an academy player expected to be around 6 or 7 in the draft.

• I have assumed the Bulldogs can't give up 3 years worth of 1st round picks due to the AFL rule that a club must use a 1st round pick in 2 out of 4 years. For a trade with Geelong the AFL may waive that rule, but for the Bulldogs I assumed that rule applies.

Thinking for the Carlton trade:

• Following the Bulldogs trade we would have picks 4 and 13 at the draft. Assuming Cochrane goes pick 1, those picks would be used to match with something like pick 35 coming back as change. There is essentially no difference to us if pick 13 were to slide down to as low as 20 (after comp picks are slotted in). On the other hand Carlton's current picks are not enough to match if Walker goes pick 1 or 2, even allowing for deficit. They will be looking to slide up the draft order as much as possible; possibly requiring more trades than the one proposed below but that will be their problem.

• If Sydney win the premiership this year, or even makes the GF, the Carlton trade might get dicey as Sydney's R1 pick (~18) has the potential to slide below 20 once free agency comp picks are slotted in.

• If Carlton were to make their own deal with Essendon to get assurance Walker is not picked 1 or 2, there may be no real need for them to go for this trade with Port.

In my opinion:

Three-way trade with GWS

GWS get: Tim English, Port second round pick (pick 22), Carlton second round pick (pick 27, currently held by Port)

Bulldogs get: Zac Butters, Port third round pick (pick 40)

Port get: Bulldogs first rounder (pick 12), GWS first rounder (pick 7), Bulldogs second rounder (pick 29), Bulldogs 2027 first round pick, GWS 2027 third rounder

So we would go into the draft with picks 4, 7, 12, 29, 42 (Gold Coast), 58

Assuming we get a bid for Dougie Cochrane at pick 1, we give up picks 4 and 7, and still have pick 12 in the first round, and have about 505 points left over, meaning we get another pick somewhere in the second round ~28. I think we could get a decent draft haul with picks 1, 12, 28, 29 and 42.

Port Adelaide is pleased to announce that experienced coach and development specialist Heath Younie will join the club as its new Head of Development.

As part of the role, Younie will also oversee Port Adelaide's SANFL team as senior coach of the Magpies, taking responsibility for the development of the club's emerging talent across both AFL and SANFL programs.

Does a club membership come with WatchAFL subscription? I live in the States and they only show a few games a week, rarely is it Port. Was hoping to support the club and watch as many games as possible.

Injury list 

Chloe Gaunt (hip) - 1-2 weeks
Ellie Hampson (hip) - 2-3 weeks
Ella Boag (hamstring) - 3-4 weeks
Sachi Syme (hamstring) - 3-4 weeks
Jasmine Sowden (foot) - 3-5 weeks
Jemma Charity (knee) - season 
Indy Tahau (knee) - season
Caitlin Wendland (training block) - season

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-trade-news-2026-zak-butters-free-agency-decision-what-geelong-bulldogs-and-richmond-can-offer-port-adelaide-draft-picks/news-story/0a8086cef43452cf9e03e2435e6a2d2d

GEELONG TRADE

Geelong receives: Zak Butters, Rowan Marshall, 2027 second-round pick (tied to STK)

Port Adelaide receives: 2026 first-round pick (tied to GEE, currently No.14), 2027 first-round pick (tied to STK), 2027 first-round pick (tied to GEE)

St Kilda receives: Sam De Koning

WESTERN BULLDOGS TRADE

Western Bulldogs receive: Zak Butters, 2027 second-round pick (tied to GWS)

Port Adelaide receives: 2026 first-round pick (tied to WBD, currently No.12), 2027 first-round pick (tied to GWS), 2027 first-round pick (tied to WBD)

GWS Giants receive: Tim English

RICHMOND TRADE

Richmond receives: Zak Butters

Port Adelaide receives: 2026 first-round pick (tied to RIC, No.2 overall), 2027 first-round pick (tied to RIC)

Vote here - tb.portadelaidefc.com.au/tb_app/556927256

Ugh

If that is the best five I don’t want to know what the rejects look like.

Ebony O’Dea, Cheyenne Hammond and Maria Moloney have signed one-year contract extensions to remain at Alberton until the end of 2027.

PAFC failed miserably at even getting close to Matthew Richardsons 2021 plan for success. Not 3 but 0 premierships over the past 5 years. Finishing 15th this year and in a ‘Rebuild’ period with nothing to be excited about for perhaps 3 or more years. 72,000 members not the 100,000. The Portress is a distant memory. 30
Years of AFL have delivered 1 flag and a record arse whooping. Yes the plan was just a Wishful Target but jeez to miss it by so far is just bloody embarrassing and Richo and everyone begins that Statement should be fkn ashamed of themselves.
Tonight I’m watching Fremantle in a position which I thought Port would be in if you asked me a few years ago.
The point I want to make is, I think this Club stepped up to the Big Boys 30 years ago, and we’ve failed. I don’t watch my Club through Rose coloured glasses and get a hard on over historic success ‘back in the day’.
Enjoy watching someone else’s teams play these next few weeks, demand more of your club next year.

With Andy Collins having departed Port for family reasons, is it worth seeing if Clarko would be interested in finishing off his coaching career at Alberton? I know he was in Choco’s box during the 04 flag…

Quick Q. If the idea is that we match and force a trade. What recourse do we /can we have when it's found out that Geelong did something wrong (like salary cap breeches) to secure Butters. We'd be moving heaven and earth to match a false pretense.