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The Power have vowed to match any offer for their in-demand restricted free agent, even despite recent talk of a possible roundabout way<\/a> for Port to net a free agency compensation pick, and additional draft picks via a separate trade. <\/p>\n But AFL boss Greg Swann says the league will \u201cscrutinise\u201d every deal<\/a> this trade period following speculation about a unique Butters package. <\/p>\n Each of the Cats, Dogs and Tigers are reported to have offered Butters long-term deals worth between $1.8-2 million per season. Now, it\u2019s about crafting a suitable trade. <\/p>\n So, Foxfooty.com.au explores each club\u2019s best, most realistic prospective offer to Port Adelaide, as the trade period edges closer. <\/p>\n Zak Butters has yet to nominate a preferred destination this offseason, but Geelong and the Bulldogs loom as the likeliest landing spots. (Photo by Josh Chadwick via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n GEELONG<\/p>\n Geelong receives: Zak Butters, Rowan Marshall, 2027 second-round pick (tied to STK)<\/p>\n Port Adelaide receives: 2026 first-round pick (tied to GEE, currently No.14), 2027 first-round pick (tied to STK), 2027 first-round pick (tied to GEE)<\/p>\n St Kilda receives: Sam De Koning<\/p>\n There are a few factors at play here, clearly. <\/p>\n And there\u2019s every chance something along the lines of this could go down as two separate trades, but for the purposes of this exercise, we\u2019ll put it all in the one. <\/p>\n Let\u2019s go step by step. <\/p>\n In the case that a hypothetical Marshall-for-De Koning trade happened first, a deal could see the Cats gain the Saints ruckman, a first-round pick and a second-rounder next year in exchange for SDK. <\/p>\n De Koning is more than five years younger than Marshall, and more valuable in terms of his ruck-defence versatility. <\/p>\n Why the Saints\u2019 2027 picks and not this year\u2019s? Because Port Adelaide wants 2027 first-rounders \u2014 and because St Kilda doesn\u2019t currently own a second-rounder this year. <\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget, in addition to matching for Dougie Cochrane this November, the Power are also casting their sights towards next year\u2019s draft, where Zemes Pilot (Next Generation Academy-tied) and Louis Salopek (father-son eligible) await. <\/p>\n And even while Port owns its 2027 first-rounder \u2014 which should fall high in the order \u2014 the especially compromised nature of the \u201827 draft means it needs to stock up. <\/p>\n In this particular deal, all of the Power\u2019s relevant draft needs are satisfied. <\/p>\n The Cats\u2019 2026 first-rounder, regardless of where it eventually falls between now and the end of the finals series, will be enough Value Index-wise for the Power to couple with their own first (No.4 overall) to match a rival bid at No.1 for Cochrane. <\/p>\n And the two 2027 first-rounders they get from Geelong and St Kilda respectively will help them land Pilot and Salopek next year. <\/p>\n The question is, will Port Adelaide be satisfied with that draft haul, given that those two 2027 firsts will come late in the Tassie-diluted first-round order. <\/p>\n De Koning is the other cog that needs this to work, as while it\u2019s been reported that St Kilda has interest in reuniting him with brother Tom, there isn\u2019t an indication that Sam desires a move. <\/p>\n But Chris Scott did drop him for Geelong\u2019s elimination final against Carlton \u2026<\/p>\n A prospective Rowan Marshall-Sam De Koning move could open Geelong\u2019s Butters trade door. (Photo by Daniel Pockett\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n WESTERN BULLDOGS<\/p>\n Western Bulldogs receive: Zak Butters, 2027 second-round pick (tied to GWS)<\/p>\n Port Adelaide receives: 2026 first-round pick (tied to WBD, currently No.12), 2027 first-round pick (tied to GWS), 2027 first-round pick (tied to WBD)<\/p>\n GWS Giants receive: Tim English<\/p>\n Similar to the above hypothetical, this concept has a few layers. <\/p>\n There\u2019s a potential reality where instead of a three-way involving English, it\u2019s a more straightforward two-teamer that sees the Dogs offer Port Adelaide a player with picks. Lachie Jaques, maybe? Half-back is one of multiple positions of need for the Power. <\/p>\n Lachie McNeil is from South Australia and could assist in the forward half if his arm was twisted. He\u2019s out of contract this year. <\/p>\n Port Adelaide fans would be crying out for a Joel Freijah type of impact player, but the odds of the Dogs being open to dealing the exciting talent would appear very low. <\/p>\n But something like this seems more realistic come trade time, given the Giants are reported to have interest in acquiring the contracted English \u2014 who remains engulfed in departure speculation. <\/p>\n The 29-year-old Dogs ruckman is still among one of the better tapsters in the game, and given that his deal runs for another three years, it might take a first and second-round pick for the Giants to pry him out. <\/p>\n And it\u2019d leave the Dogs free to pursue Rowan Marshall, who they\u2019ve been linked to alongside fellow Butters suitor Geelong. <\/p>\n As for the draft picks headed Port Adelaide\u2019s way, it\u2019s very similar to the capital Geelong is giving in its aforementioned trade. <\/p>\n The one caveat is the GWS pick, which should, in theory, be a slightly better selection than St Kilda\u2019s. <\/p>\n But it\u2019s a very similar deal for the Power, who are looked after from a bid-matching perspective this year and next. <\/p>\n And in the world where they\u2019re satisfied with that kind of return, it\u2019d leave Butters with the simple decision of where he wants to play his football, out of Geelong and the Dogs. <\/p>\n If Tim English desires a move to the Giants this offseason, it could present an avenue for a Dogs-Butters trade. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/p>\n MEGA TRADE STATE OF PLAY: Who all 18 AFL clubs could land and lose this off-season\u2026 and their assets analysed<\/a><\/p>\n