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Crow Jordon Butts in sights of Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne
The Crows’ defence has been a hallmark of their terrific 2025 season and rivals have begun to take notice, with two Victorian teams plotting to poach one of Adelaide’s key defenders.
Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne could make a play for Adelaide defender Jordon Butts in the likely event St Kilda’s Callum Wilkie shuts down the Dogs’ trade interest.
The Dogs and Kangaroos are on the hunt for a strong-bodied key defender and have eyed Butts as an ideal addition to a back line missing another prime stopper.
Butts, 25, made his return from a lacerated lung in the SANFL last month but has been unable to break back into the senior team ahead of the semi-final against Hawthorn on Friday night.
While Luke Beveridge’s men are yet to formally engage in talks about Butts, the club is expected to make an approach once the Crows’ season ends.
And North Melbourne could make a massive cash play for the backman in a bid to land the big fish defender the Roos have desperately lacked to beef up their back half.
Alastair Clarkson’s men are keen to add another key position defender top help finally make the leap out of the bottom four after years in the AFL doldrums.
And the Roos have significant salary cap room to try and make Butts an offer which would be difficult to refuse.
Wilkie is the Bulldogs’ top target but the tough defender is expected to remain at Moorabbin and take over from Jack Steele as the club’s next captain next season.
It means the Dogs will have to scour the market for other option and 195cm Butts has loomed large after suffering a punctured lung in the clash against Western Bulldogs in Round 18.
The Crows’ defence has thrived without him in the back end of the season which is set to prompt the two Victorian clubs to try and tempt the Shepparton product back home to Victoria.
The Dogs and Kangaroos could offer him a permanent spot in the senior team as well as a significant pay rise to make the move, but he remains contracted and a required player at Adelaide.
Western Bulldogs’ defensive deficiencies were the club’s biggest problem as the Dogs missed the finals this season despite their potent midfield and forward setups.
Finding another key defender is the top priority for the Dogs who could lose Buku Khamis to Carlton, while Liam Jones is also on the hunt for a new home.
Code Sports has confirmed Jones wants to play on in new colours next season after falling out of favour at the Kennel playing five games in 2025.
But Adelaide has made clear it does not want to relinquish Butts who will become a free agent at the end of next season.
Adelaide has indicated to his management, Scott Lucas from Phoenix, it intends to extend his contract beyond 2026 to lock the defender into a new deal at West Lakes.
But if he holds off on a contract extension the Dogs and Roos could make another move in 12 months’ time.
Butts has excelled with his strong intercept marking skills playing 85 games since he was taken with the bargain 39th pick in the 2018 rookie draft.
He was a mainstay of the Adelaide side through the middle part of the season playing 10 straight games before the serious lung injury threatened to end his campaign.
In any case, a deal would be difficult as many clubs do not want more picks in this year’s draft due to the shallow talent pool and lack of depth.
The Dogs have pick 10 in this year’s draft but that is expected to slide back into the late teens due to the compensation picks and academy selections inside the first round.
Some list managers say it could force more player-for-player trades this exchange period which have become less popular in recent years.
The Crows’ defence has been a hallmark of their terrific 2025 season and rivals have begun to take notice, with two Victorian teams plotting to poach one of Adelaide’s key defenders.
Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne could make a play for Adelaide defender Jordon Butts in the likely event St Kilda’s Callum Wilkie shuts down the Dogs’ trade interest.
The Dogs and Kangaroos are on the hunt for a strong-bodied key defender and have eyed Butts as an ideal addition to a back line missing another prime stopper.
Butts, 25, made his return from a lacerated lung in the SANFL last month but has been unable to break back into the senior team ahead of the semi-final against Hawthorn on Friday night.
While Luke Beveridge’s men are yet to formally engage in talks about Butts, the club is expected to make an approach once the Crows’ season ends.
And North Melbourne could make a massive cash play for the backman in a bid to land the big fish defender the Roos have desperately lacked to beef up their back half.
Alastair Clarkson’s men are keen to add another key position defender top help finally make the leap out of the bottom four after years in the AFL doldrums.
And the Roos have significant salary cap room to try and make Butts an offer which would be difficult to refuse.
Wilkie is the Bulldogs’ top target but the tough defender is expected to remain at Moorabbin and take over from Jack Steele as the club’s next captain next season.
It means the Dogs will have to scour the market for other option and 195cm Butts has loomed large after suffering a punctured lung in the clash against Western Bulldogs in Round 18.
The Crows’ defence has thrived without him in the back end of the season which is set to prompt the two Victorian clubs to try and tempt the Shepparton product back home to Victoria.
The Dogs and Kangaroos could offer him a permanent spot in the senior team as well as a significant pay rise to make the move, but he remains contracted and a required player at Adelaide.
Western Bulldogs’ defensive deficiencies were the club’s biggest problem as the Dogs missed the finals this season despite their potent midfield and forward setups.
Finding another key defender is the top priority for the Dogs who could lose Buku Khamis to Carlton, while Liam Jones is also on the hunt for a new home.
Code Sports has confirmed Jones wants to play on in new colours next season after falling out of favour at the Kennel playing five games in 2025.
But Adelaide has made clear it does not want to relinquish Butts who will become a free agent at the end of next season.
Adelaide has indicated to his management, Scott Lucas from Phoenix, it intends to extend his contract beyond 2026 to lock the defender into a new deal at West Lakes.
But if he holds off on a contract extension the Dogs and Roos could make another move in 12 months’ time.
Butts has excelled with his strong intercept marking skills playing 85 games since he was taken with the bargain 39th pick in the 2018 rookie draft.
He was a mainstay of the Adelaide side through the middle part of the season playing 10 straight games before the serious lung injury threatened to end his campaign.
In any case, a deal would be difficult as many clubs do not want more picks in this year’s draft due to the shallow talent pool and lack of depth.
The Dogs have pick 10 in this year’s draft but that is expected to slide back into the late teens due to the compensation picks and academy selections inside the first round.
Some list managers say it could force more player-for-player trades this exchange period which have become less popular in recent years.
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