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AFL GIANT\u2019S STUNNING $16M ENTRY INTO FREE AGENT RACE<\/p>\n
Richmond is willing to give Zak Butters the biggest contract in league history as the rebuilding giant enters the hunt for the game\u2019s top free agent.<\/p>\n
The Western Bulldogs and Geelong are viewed as Butters\u2019 top suitors, in a race likely to be determined more by a desire to be closer to his family in Melbourne\u2019s west than pure cash.<\/p>\n
\u201cHappy to acknowledge we are one of a host of clubs that would have an interest in a player of that level,\u201d Geelong CEO Steve Hocking said on 3AW last weekend.<\/p>\n
But AFL Media reports<\/a> the Tigers have banked salary cap space over the 2025 and 2026 seasons, thanks to their young list, and can front-load their offer to blow rivals out of the water.<\/p>\n It\u2019s expected Butters will land a long-term contract of at least eight years, on close to $2 million a year, but that figure will only rise as more contenders enter the race for his services.<\/p>\n Richmond\u2019s offer would hit those marks making it the largest deal in footy history – a statistic heavily impacted by the rising salary cap, which has gone from $10.4 million in 2016 to $18.3 million in 2026.<\/p>\n Proportionally, a $2 million salary in 2026 takes up as much of a club’s TPP as a $1.13 million salary would have a decade ago.<\/p>\n For context, in late 2017 Dustin Martin was offered $1.5 million a year by North Melbourne, but accepted $1.3 million a year to stay at Richmond.<\/p>\n GATHER ROUND TEAM TIPS: Pies reveal Daicos selection hint; Roos gun in doubt after shock surgery<\/a><\/p>\n AFL DAILY: \u2018Anger\u2019 at Scott with $5m truth behind wildcard sledge; Blues star blasted for \u2018rubbish\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n ‘Asked same question every single week’ | 01:03<\/p>\n Hawthorn and Collingwood are also believed to have interest in Butters.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone here wants to win premierships, everyone at every other club wants to win premierships as well. No matter where I am, I want to win and I loved playing with that team today (against Essendon in Round 2). Family\u2019s important as well, it\u2019s been important to me for a long time,\u201d Butters told the ABC recently.<\/p>\n \u201cMy mum and dad are over this weekend so it\u2019s good to see them. It\u2019s obviously a big decision but I\u2019m not going to make it any time soon.\u201d <\/p>\n