{"id":891715,"date":"2026-09-14T13:14:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T13:14:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/891715\/"},"modified":"2026-09-14T13:14:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T13:14:15","slug":"todd-marshall-emerges-at-centre-of-fresh-zak-butters-twist-as-afl-issues-trade-warning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/891715\/","title":{"rendered":"Todd Marshall emerges at centre of fresh Zak Butters twist as AFL issues trade warning"},"content":{"rendered":"

Todd Marshall has reportedly emerged as the potential circuit-breaker in a complex deal that could help Port Adelaide teammate Zak Butters land at the Western Bulldogs,<\/a> while still allowing the Power to pocket the prized pick No.5 as free agency compensation.<\/p>\n

High-profile AFL journalist Tom Morris revealed on Monday evening that the Port utility could be sent to the Bulldogs in a separate trade involving significant draft capital, as the clubs explore how to satisfy each other while still unlocking Port\u2019s access to a third first-round pick.<\/p>\n

Watch every match of the 2026 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

<\/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

Such a move would effectively leave the Bulldogs with both Butters and Marshall, while Port would walk away with three first-round selections \u2014 though any secondary deal would need to be approved by the AFL on its own merits.<\/p>\n

It comes after Fox Footy\u2019s Jon Ralph revealed the AFL is preparing to warn all clubs against \u201csecret deals and unapproved trades\u201d, with any arrangement between Port and the Bulldogs certain to come under significant scrutiny.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe AFL has put a shot across the bows of both Port Adelaide and the Bulldogs (as) they try and come up with the perfect trade and compensation solutions.,\u201d Ralph told On The Couch on Monday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe AFL will write to all clubs and warn about secret deals and unapproved trades … the centrepiece of this will be Port Adelaide taking pick No.5 as free agency compensation, and then there\u2019ll be a secondary linked element.<\/p>\n

\u201cClubs would see it as collusion, but both these clubs would say \u2018it\u2019s just smart business\u2019.<\/p>\n

Butters chooses Western Bulldogs | 00:32<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s effectively Port Adelaide getting a great deal, and the Bulldogs not having to give up three first-rounders.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny deal here absolutely needs to pass the pub test, because the AFL world is very sceptical already about these deals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Under one hypothetical scenario, Port could accept pick No.5 as compensation for Butters before separately trading Marshall to the Bulldogs, in exchange for pick No.13 (after compensation) and a future first-round pick.<\/p>\n

Western Bulldogs could receive: Zak Butters, Todd Marshall<\/p>\n

Port Adelaide could receive: Pick 5 (free agency compensation), Pick 13 (after compensation), future first-round pick <\/p>\n

Morris\u2019 earlier report on Marshall then saw him emphasise how any trade involving the 27-year-old \u2014 who is contracted to Alberton until the end of 2029 \u2014 would have to stand independently from the Butters free agency move to satisfy the league.<\/p>\n

Ralphy breaks down Butters $19.8M deal | 01:33<\/p>\n

\u201cContracted Port Adelaide big man Todd Marshall has emerged as a possible circuit breaker in a trade that would satisfy Port and the Western Bulldogs,\u201d Morris said on Seven.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost importantly, it would be a deal that could stand on its own two feet, separate to the compensation pick Port would receive.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn other words, it would (have to) be approved by the AFL separate to the compensation pick, Pick 5, which Port Adelaide would receive if they decided to go down that route.\u201d<\/p>\n

The complicated negotiations come amid the extraordinary financial stakes attached to Butters\u2019 potential move, with the Bulldogs reportedly tabling a nine-year offer said to be worth almost $20 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy understanding is this nine-year deal from the Western Bulldogs is $19.8 million \u2014 that\u2019s $2.2m a year,\u201d Ralph added on Monday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Geelong deal was about $14.8m, so that\u2019s an extra $5 million. It\u2019s about the money, but it\u2019s also of course about playing with the likes of Marcus Bontempelli, and the club that he grew up loving as well.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Todd Marshall has reportedly emerged as the potential circuit-breaker in a complex deal that could help Port Adelaide…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":891716,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[560],"tags":[638,64,63,55,639,85],"class_list":["post-891715","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-afl","tag-afl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australian-football-league","tag-australianfootballleague","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/891715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=891715"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/891715\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/891716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=891715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=891715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=891715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}