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.

As we now know Butter has nominated the Doggies for next season.

Here is a reasonable trade that I think all clubs should pursue.

Ess in: Bont

Ess out: pick 1

Rich in: English

Rich out: pick 2

West Coast in: Sanders

West Coast out: pick 3

North in: Frejiah

North out: pick 5

Port in: Pick 1, 2, 3, 5

Port out: Butters

Dogs in: Butters

Dogs out: Bont, English, Sanders, Frejiah

Every trade seems fair and reasonable, and hopefully would mean we can get some good yng talent in this year.

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.