The \u201cstrong pull of home\u201d could shake an in-demand Port star as two AFL rivals are set to go head-to-head in their recruitment pitch.<\/p>\n
Plus why the Eagles would be open to splitting their top picks in a bid to accelerate a rebuild, and how St Kilda\u2019s bold trade play could backfire.<\/p>\n
Watch every match of the 2025 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018PROXIMITY\u2019 COULD BE CATALYST IN BUTTERS CALL<\/p>\n WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a \u201cstrong pull of home\u201d for in-demand pre-agent Zak Butters, who\u2019ll be eligible for restricted free agency next October. <\/p>\n And if the Port Adelaide superstar ultimately decides to leave Alberton this year or next, he could well choose his Victorian destination based on its proximity to his hometown. <\/p>\n The 24-year-old is contracted at the Power through next year but hails from rural Victorian town Darley \u2014 almost 70km west of Melbourne\u2019s city centre \u2014 and is expected to carefully weigh his options. <\/p>\n Hawthorn recently emerged as a determined suitor of Butters, but the Hawks might end up being beaten to the punch by two rivals due to a factor outside of their control.<\/p>\n Will Hogan return for Elimination Final? | 02:13<\/p>\n AFL Media\u2019s Josh Gabelich gave his thoughts on the situation on SEN\u2019s Crunch Time.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a strong pull of home,\u201d Gabelich began.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been well documented about his family\u2019s struggles. But he\u2019s spent seven years away from Darley.<\/p>\n \u201cI think if he was to choose to leave, whether it\u2019s this year (or next) \u2014 but I expect it to be next year \u2014 it would be Geelong and the Western Bulldogs because of the proximity from where he\u2019s from.\u201d<\/p>\n READ ALSO: Cashed-up Hawks \u2018ready to launch\u2019 big trade play. Four superstars must be in their sights<\/a><\/p>\n The Darley Devils junior has played seven seasons at Port Adelaide and developed a superstar profile as one of the competition\u2019s most dynamic and courageous players. <\/p>\n The 139-game former no.12 pick this year averaged a career-best 27.9 disposals with 5.0 inside-50s and 6.6 clearances. He was selected to the All-Australian squad of 44 but missed the final cut this week. <\/p>\n EAGLES OPEN TO PICK SPLIT<\/p>\n West Coast CEO Don Pyke has revealed the club are open to splitting their prized picks \u2013 but it\u2019s dependent on what\u2019s on the table.<\/p>\n The Eagles are still waiting to hear back from the AFL in regards to a compensation bid \u2013 after just 11 wins in four seasons, while there\u2019s also the compensation for the looming exit of co-captain Oscar Allen<\/a>.<\/p>\n Allen has already informed the Eagles of his intention to explore his options as a restricted free agent \u2013 with Brisbane reportedly his club of choice.<\/p>\n The Lions\u2019 offer to Allen is widely expected to net West Coast a Band 1 free agency compensation selection, which would be Pick 2 \u2013 the pick after the Eagles\u2019 natural first-rounder, but a potential deal for Lion Brandon Starcevich<\/a> is complicating those matters.<\/p>\n Crows ponder their Rankine replacement | 02:18<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had several contracts in front of Oscar for a period of time and those haven\u2019t received, sort of the nod of approval,\u201d Pyke told ABC Sport radio.<\/p>\n When asked if the Eagles would consider splitting a potential pick 1 and 2 draft hand, Pyke replied: \u201cMy short answer will be we\u2019ll look at the list and look at the draft pool and again, I need to probably lean clearly heavily on our list manager and recruiting team to say well what\u2019s our best return?\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cIf there\u2019s two players who are clearly stand out and we do end up with one and two, we\u2019d have to be strongly swayed to change that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there was a broader pool of talent that meant you could get two really good players and maybe split one of those picks \u2013 it also depends how many picks you\u2019re going to have and where we\u2019re at. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve obviously got Hawthorn\u2019s pick as well (acquired in last year\u2019s trade for defender Tom Barrass). <\/p>\n \u201cIf we wanted to have four picks in the top, you know first round then splitting one might be an option. Don\u2019t know. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a good question. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s certainly something we will consider \u2013 but we want to make sure we bring in the best talent and utilize those picks if we do end up with one and two.\u201d<\/p>\n The Eagles have only had three prized No.1 picks in their AFL history \u2013 Drew Banfield (1992), Michael Gardiner (1996) and Harley Reid (2023).<\/p>\n The AFL Commission will assess West Coast\u2019s submission for compensation in Grand Final week.<\/p>\n AFL names All-Australian Team | 02:12<\/p>\n WILL SAINTS\u2019 BOLD TRADE PLAY BITE?<\/p>\n St Kilda are ramping up their list build this off-season, having already secured the signature of their $2 million man Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.<\/p>\n With Blues big man Tom De Koning nominating the Saints as his club of choice as a restricted free agent, that deal is rumoured to be the $1.7m mark.<\/p>\n On top of that, the Saints are reportedly chasing the likes of Jack Silvagni (whose dad Steve is the club\u2019s list boss), Cam McKenzie and Leek Aleer.<\/p>\n But could the bold trade stance backfire? Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney is concerned.<\/p>\n \u201cI just worry what happens culture-wise with this group going forward \u2013 the pursuits of half a dozen players that are all going to be on massive money,\u201d he warned on SEN.<\/p>\n \u201cIs (Nas) going to perform the same level next year as he did this year? Is Tom De Koning going to come in and be a $1.7m player?<\/p>\n \u201cIf Wanganeen-Milera drops off next year, if De Koning doesn\u2019t play a lot better footy than he did at Carlton and other guys jump to that elite level \u2026 I just wonder where it leaves that in terms of culture and jealousy with other players earning so much.<\/p>\n Nas on reason for staying with Saints | 02:36<\/p>\n \u201cI like what they are doing with this (bold trade hunt), but it does leave the possibility of upsetting the culture of the club within the group.\u201d<\/p>\n Fellow SEN journalist Sam Edmund believes the Silvagni move is growing \u2013 despite massive interest already from the Western Bulldogs, and Collingwood \u2013 although coach Craig McRae conceded he didn\u2019t score a \u201csecond date\u201d<\/a> with the former Blue.<\/p>\n \u201cThe industry has been buzzing for many weeks that the Saints were ready to pull the rug out from underneath the Dogs and the Pies,\u201d Edmund said.<\/p>\n