Trade Rumours 2025

[Axe Man]

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.

[Bornadog]

WESTERN BULLDOGS

An audacious play for St Kilda vice-captain Callum Wilkie shows exactly where the Bulldogs’ priorities lie in this trade period. Securing an experienced key defender is a must, and keep an eye out for a move for a young midfielder after they pursued Fremantle’s Neil Erasmus unsuccessfully. Tall utility Buku Khamis is likely to leave.

• Who they have been linked to:
  Callum Wilkie (St Kilda), Tylar Young (Richmond), Jake Lever (Melbourne), Steven May (Melbourne), Jordon Butts (Adelaide)
• Who rivals are circling:
  Buku Khamis, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
• Retired:
  Taylor Duryea

Lever has indicated he is staying, big no to May, and a yes to Wilkie and Butts, however both are contracted and will be hard to get.
Is Young under contract?

[Axe Man]

Lever has indicated he is staying, big no to May, and a yes to Wilkie and Butts, however both are contracted and will be hard to get.
Is Young under contract?

Young is out of contract but West Coast have reportedly made him an offer.

[Bornadog]

Jon Ralph

Neil Erasmus had basically made up his mind to go to the Dogs. Then woke up on the Sunday of the pre finals bye and couldn't leave. Now locked in at Dockers.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Jon Ralph

Story of our life.

[Pleather Sole]

The young fella tells me Jamarra just posted a photo of himself in his manager's office. I assume that doesn't happen often?
In the unlikely event that Wilkie doesn't get the value he deserves, could Jamarra end up at St Kilda as part of a trade?

[Axe Man]

The young fella tells me Jamarra just posted a photo of himself in his manager's office. I assume that doesn't happen often?
In the unlikely event that Wilkie doesn't get the value he deserves, could Jamarra end up at St Kilda as part of a trade?

Unfortunately his trade value is naught, but if we can offload his contract somehow I'll take it.

[Pleather Sole]

Unfortunately his trade value is naught, but if we can offload his contract somehow I'll take it.

Yeah I understand that, part of a deal is more what I meant but didn't say. My lad says he's training with Brad Hill. Thought he might be a good fit with Hill as a solid mentor. Playing with Nasiah, Keeler, Hill, Windhager-if he stays, Henry, Collard. He certainly loved Winmar at the Saints. I can see him in their forward line. Liam Ryan could still land there too.
Regardless of where Wilkie plays I think it might be a win win.

[chef]

Story of our life.

It's a struggle even turning B graders heads.

[Sedat]

It's a struggle even turning B graders heads.

Wash your mouth out, we landed Suckling.

[chef]

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.

Hmm, we may be half a chance with Butts if it's only North as competition.

[NAUGHTY100]

Hmm, we may be half a chance with Butts if it's only North as competition.

North will throw the kitchen sink at Butts , and thats the quandary , is Butts worth around 800k a year ?, because if we miss on Wilkie and then go for Butts we are gonna have to beat Norths offer to him and that will no be cheap .
If we decide Butts is the guy we want we will have to over pay big time , we certainly can't offer him finals , we are closer then North , but we need to improve again next year to play finals .
I for one would love Butts his a strong attacking backman , but he will come with a hefty price .

[Axe Man]

North will throw the kitchen sink at Butts , and thats the quandary , is Butts worth around 800k a year ?, because if we miss on Wilkie and then go for Butts we are gonna have to beat Norths offer to him and that will no be cheap .
If we decide Butts is the guy we want we will have to over pay big time , we certainly can't offer him finals , we are closer then North , but we need to improve again next year to play finals .
I for one would love Butts his a strong attacking backman , but he will come with a hefty price .

I don't think we need to beat North's offer, we might not be a destination club but we are surely more attractive than that rabble.

We do need to be somewhat comparable though. Most players will sacrifice some money for the increased prospect of success.

[Mofra]

North will throw the kitchen sink at Butts , and thats the quandary , is Butts worth around 800k a year ?, because if we miss on Wilkie and then go for Butts we are gonna have to beat Norths offer to him and that will no be cheap .
If we decide Butts is the guy we want we will have to over pay big time , we certainly can't offer him finals , we are closer then North , but we need to improve again next year to play finals .
I for one would love Butts his a strong attacking backman , but he will come with a hefty price .

Butts is worth more to us than to other clubs.
I like Tylar Young but we seem to prioritise others.

[GVGjr]

I don't think we need to beat North's offer, we might not be a destination club but we are surely more attractive than that rabble.

We do need to be somewhat comparable though. Most players will sacrifice some money for the increased prospect of success.

I guess if a team throws around money and an extra long contract than they ideally should, like the Saints have, it will get some bites.
If however, a player wants to be part of a successful team and is prepared to back their abilities we should be a desirable destination.

We have the flexibility within our playing list and salary cap to go hard for top end talent or look for some lore profile players.
We might end up with both Jordan Butts and Tyler Young