Now his suitors have to figure out a way to satisfy Port Adelaide in a trade.
Butters is yet to nominate a club but the Power has said it will match any bid that comes for the restricted free agent, so those who are courting the superstar 25-year-old will have to strike a trade to bring him in.
With Collingwood out of the race, it is between Geelong, the Western Bulldogs and Richmond.
The Cats might be the favourite, but they are also the ones who probably have the least to part with to get Butters in at Geelong.
So how does a deal for Butters get done? We look at what his three suitors could potentially offer the Power as they look to bring a superstar in the door.
GEELONG
BEST CASE
Power get: Top-10 pick (through another club), Geelong 2027 R1, Geelong 2028 R1, Jay Polkinghorne
Cats get: Zak Butters, 2026 R2
MOST REALISTIC
Power get: Geelong 2026 R1, Geelong 2026 R2, Geelong 2027 R1, Geelong 2028 R1
Cats get: Zak Butters, Port Adelaide 2026 R3
No doubt a trade with Geelong is the least enticing of Port Adelaide’s options come October.
The Cats have built a recent reputation of playing hard ball, often not budging on an early offer and rarely working on other deals to improve their trade hand.
That would make things particularly sticky for Port Adelaide.
The most likely offer from Kardinia Park to Alberton would be built around the three first rounders the Cats can trade.
But this year’s pick sits now at No.14, could fall back if the Cats go deep into September and will definitely be forced back by draft night bids.
Next year’s first would most likely be well past the No.20 mark given Tasmania’s looming presence and the fact the Cats would then have Zak Butters in their team, and you couldn’t expect 2028’s pick to improve by much.
Geelong has drafted a player inside the top-10 once since Joel Selwood in 2006 – that was Jhye Clark in 2022 and that pick landed in Geelong’s lap after a Gold Coast salary dump.
Geelong generally doesn’t finish in a position to draft in the top-10 and that spells trouble for the Power.
Ideally, the Cats would get to work finding a way to land a top-10 pick to flip to the Power for Butters.
Could they throw in a young talent like the bright Jay Polkinghorne?
He is a very impressive young key forward from country SA.
That sounds nice but history says the Cats don’t put those kind of offers on the table.
Remember, Geelong traded picks 13, 15, 20 and a future fourth rounder for Jeremy Cameron and two second-round selections.
The Cats also gave up Dean Gore, pick 9 and 28 for Patrick Dangerfield and pick 50.
Picks 17 and 38 was enough for the Cats to land Bailey Smith and pick 45.
So as much as people expect Butters to be worth a handful of top-end selections, Geelong has a track record of getting their guys without throwing out massive trade packages.
RICHMOND
BEST CASE
Power get: Richmond 2026 R1 (No.2), Richmond 2027 R1, Richmond 2028 R2
Tigers get: Zak Butters, 2026 R2
MOST REALISTIC
Power get: Richmond 2026 R1 (No.2), Richmond 2026 R2
Tigers get: Zak Butters
If the Power could choose a location for Butters itself, the Tigers would be short-priced favourites.
They have the No.2 pick in this year’s draft that the Power could use to help it bring potential No. 1 pick Dougie Cochrane to Alberton as a NGA product.
And given the Tigers probably won’t soar up the ladder next year, even with Butters in yellow and black, their 2027 draft pick would help the Power land Zemes Pilot or Louis Salopek in the compromised Tasmania draft.
The Tigers also have some young players that could help the Power.
Port Adelaide will surely ask the question of the South Australian talent at the Tigers, including No.7 pick Sam Cumming.
He is exactly what the Power needs, a gun young midfielder who has already spent time at Alberton as part of the AFL Academy.
But as we have seen, clubs are far too hesitant to give up something to bring something through the door these days.
So while Cumming would be an outstanding get for the Power, it is far more likely one of his fellow South Australians teammates like Liam Fawcett or midfielder Kane McAuliffe.
WESTERN BULLDOGS
BEST CASE
Power get: Western Bulldogs 2026 R1, Western Bulldogs 2027 R1, Western Bulldogs 2026 R2, Joel Freijah
Bulldogs get: Zak Butters, Port Adelaide 2027 R2
MOST REALISTIC
Power get: Western Bulldogs 2026 R1, Western Bulldogs 2027 R1, Western Bulldogs 2028 R2, Western Bulldogs 2026 R2
Bulldogs get: Zak Butters, Port Adelaide 2026 R3
So long seen as the frontrunners for Butters, who grew up supporting the club, the Bulldogs will be hoping they can get back into contention now that the superstar has informed the Power of his desire to return home.
The Dogs offer would likely be similar to what the Cats would fax through, but their picks could be better.
As for any players who could be involved, there has been some chat in South Australia that Joel Freijah could be involved but surely the Dogs don’t give up a young star in the making like him – even though he would be perfect for the Power.
Bailey Williams is an SA boy, but turns 29 in October, so doesn’t really fit the Power’s timeline.
Arthur Jones is out of contract and would add to the Power’s forward line, but Brisbane are among those interested in the Bulldog – as a contingency plan if Zac Bailey leaves – so could Port convince him to spurn an offer from the Lions?
Originally published as What Port Adelaide can get in return for wantaway star Zak Butters