I can't believe it might be Butters

[BornInDroopSt'54]

I just reading a report quoting Chad Cornes who is entering the media and leaving the Crows.
He says Butters loves Bulldogs and will go to us next year, end of season.
Awesome.

[Go_Dogs]

I just reading a report quoting Chad Cornes who is entering the media and leaving the Crows.
He says Butters loves Bulldogs and will go to us next year, end of season.
Awesome.

I’ve heard that too. How good.

[Uninformed]

I posted a snippet earlier this morning in the wrong thread.

Chad Cornes was on SEN Breakfast this morning with his brother and Sam Edmund. Edmund asked Chad where he thought Butters might end up. He didn't hesitate in replying that "Butters loves the Bulldogs... Hardcore Bulldog supporter". He didn't seem to have much doubt where he thought Butters was going.

That is seriously exciting news. I hope we can totally nail him down over the next year. Would be so good to watch him with Bont, Ed, Libba and co. They would rip teams apart. Yes!!!! (Picture old man doing double fist pump emoji.)

[jazzadogs]

Breaking news: Chad Cornes loves Butts.

You're hearing it more and more.

[WBFC4FFC]

That is seriously exciting news. I hope we can totally nail him down over the next year. Would be so good to watch him with Bont, Ed, Libba and co. They would rip teams apart. Yes!!!! (Picture old man doing double fist pump emoji.)

Just hope the AFL will be vigilant and take action on the third party deals, jobs after footy that other clubs will throw at him to try and entice Butters away from the Dogs. I am looking at you Blues and Hand-Bags!

Not confident in the AFL doing this given the way they protect Bailey Sniff and his constant misdemeanours!

[yoshi]

Butters to dogs would be our biggest ever trade pick-up and I am all for it

[yoshi]

Hypothetically speaking, how much would it cost to trade in Butters?

With the new trading rules of being able to trade picks 2 years into the future, I believe there will be an inflation in terms of the cost to bring in the A+ elite players.
Although contracted, we saw the prices for Curnow and Merrett.

An uncontracted Butters at his peak at 26 years of age will likely command 3-4 first round picks

A very rogue left field idea:
Sanders is OOC in 2026. I'd say more likely to leave to Tasmania than not. Given Tasmania was handed a bounty of first round picks that needs to be traded, I wonder if we send can send Port Sanders there on a 2 year contract that expires in 2028, forcing Tasmania to trade for Sanders rather than acquire through FA as they commence at the beginning of 2028.
I can see Tasmania offering huge $$ and 2 early first rounders for him.

Given this, we can essentially trade Sanders to Port as trade collateral for the future. Obviously risky and needs all parties to be in agreeance.

It would ulimately look like this:
Sanders + 2026 first rounder + something extra -> Butters

Obviously a hypothetical and would much prefer to keep Sanders and Butters in the same team

[jazzadogs]

As a restricted FA, I think there are three options:

- Port don't match the offer, and get AFL compo. This is only really likely if they finish bottom 4, and would be getting an early pick, which they would probably try to trade out for 2027 picks IF they get approved for NGA Dougie Cochrane.

- Port match the offer, clubs can't agree to a trade, and Zak goes to the PSD. Almost never happens. Very unlikely.

- Port match the offer and we trade with them. I think Port will want 2x top 10 picks, but a top 10 pick plus a couple of late teens/early 20s would realistically be enough. If we offer our 2026 first, 2027 first (hopefully pick 20+ in Tassie draft) and 2028 first (another compromised Tassie draft), I'm not sure how Port could say no given the alternative is PSD. We may need to trade out our 2026 first for future picks if they are approved for Cochrane.

The big complication to offering 2026 picks from our end is if West Jr, Cooney Jr or our two NGA products are rated highly as we will need early picks to match them. We will have everything crossed that Port finish low, we play finals and they take the compo, because 1x pick 4 is better than 2-3x pick 18.

If Sanders chose to leave for Tassie, that would be one obvious way for us to rebuild our draft hand in 27/28. If Sanders chose not to leave, then we've still got a solid young mid. I'd prefer to be moving future firsts in a Butters trade than Sanders.
Other ways for us to potentially build draft points next year would be FA Buku and OOC Busslinger.

There are still a lot of 'what ifs' about how this trade would play out, which will become clearer throughout 2026 based on our form, Ports form, Cochranes form, our NGA/father son form...

[NAUGHTY100]

I agree with all scenario's about what picks we could or should use , but its all just conjecture untill Butters actually lifts his hand and the words we all want to hear come from his mouth :TRADE ME TO THE BULLDOGS : , untill that happens we can hope and wish , but nothing more realistically .
Alot ot water has still to run under the bridge and a few more pointers are pointing to us but untill i hear thoes words come from Butters himself , i'll keep my powder dry and fingers crossed , nothing more us supporters can do .
The club on the other hand has to leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of this footballer , he maybe one of the main reasons we win one or two flags in the next 6 years , or continue to struggle to make finals each year .
In my opinion Butters is that good , would have that much influence in the results of our games .

[BontlowSzn]

If someone like Butters wants to come play for our club, then you absolutely find a way to get it done.

The only little doubt I have is - Can we build a successful team/list when we are paying big money to 5 or 6 elite players?

Our issue lately hasn't been our top handful of players. They have been performing at a very high level, yet we still can't win enough games to make finals.

If we go into the next few years with Butters (who will likely cost upwards of $1.7m), Bont, Darcy, Richards and Naughton all on big money. With Dale and Tim not far behind. Can we get enough talent elsewhere to improve us to that next level? Will we just be heavily reliant on the same 6-8 players?

Apart of me would prefer us to take the Adelaide route and find three B/B+ players that slot into our top 15 performers, instead of getting one elite player.

[NAUGHTY100]

If someone like Butters wants to come play for our club, then you absolutely find a way to get it done.

The only little doubt I have is - Can we build a successful team/list when we are paying big money to 5 or 6 elite players?

Our issue lately hasn't been our top handful of players. They have been performing at a very high level, yet we still can't win enough games to make finals.

If we go into the next few years with Butters (who will likely cost upwards of $1.7m), Bont, Darcy, Richards and Naughton all on big money. With Dale and Tim not far behind. Can we get enough talent elsewhere to improve us to that next level? Will we just be heavily reliant on the same 6-8 players?

Apart of me would prefer us to take the Adelaide route and find three B/B+ players that slot into our top 15 performers, instead of getting one elite player.

I truly get where your coming from , but Butters is a generational footballer , makes every side better , if theres even a slight chance that he wants us , you go for it , throw the kitchen sink at him , you can't sit back and get 2 or 3 b graders who you hope will make you better , you always always go for the a grader you KNOW will make you better .
Butters wins you 2 or 3 games a year off his own boot which automatically makes us a finals side .
I take Butters every day of the week , you have to pay big money for big players thats just the way of the world right now , with Butters we are a top 4 side, without him we are struggling to make the 8 , and isn't the aim of every club to play finals and to do well in finals .
Butters is a player that leads by example a team man , a true champion , our side needs him , to become what we all hope we can be .

[jazzadogs]

I'm hearing rumours Bont invited Butters to his wedding. Beat that Geelong!

[bulldogfan]

Butters Wasn’t at his wedding lol

[Happy Days]

That’s interesting because I’m hearing he was. Sounds like too many sources yet again.

[1eyedog]

That’s interesting because I’m hearing he was. Sounds like too many sources yet again.

I heard there was butter, sauces and quite few other condiments at his wedding.