Geelong firming for extraordinary heist to rock AFL rivals
Geelong is heading into another finals series with high hopes of contending for a premiership, but are quietly a chance to put together one of the strongest off-season dual acquisitions in AFL history.
And that is because the Cats are seen as the inevitable destination for GWS captain Toby Greene, and are the reported frontrunner for Port Adelaide champion Zak Butters.
Giants skipper Toby Greene remains out of contract. AFL Photos
Greene is an unrestricted free agent, meaning the Cats will not have to give up draft capital to sign the star forward, who is reportedly keen to finish his career in Victoria and chase an elusive premiership.
Butters meanwhile is a restricted free agent, which gives Port Adelaide the right to match any offer that comes his way. They have already made it clear they will do so and force his team of choice to the trade table.
The star midfielder is reportedly yet to make up his mind on where he wants to play, but has told the club he will depart.
The Western Bulldogs were seen as the clear frontrunner for his services across the last 12 months, given Butters grew up supporting the club, but Geelong and Richmond remain heavily linked.
AFL reporter Cal Twomey has said across the last month that the Cats have now emerged as his most likely landing spot.
Nine journalist Sam McClure believes Butters will want to tour the Cats’ facilities before making his final call.
“I think one of the things holding (his decision) up is that Zak actually wants to go to Geelong and have a look at the facilities and I wouldn’t be surprised given how Geelong works if it’s Butters one day and then Toby Greene the next day and they get them both in and try and tick that off,” McClure told Nine’s Footy Classified on Monday night.
As for Greene, former Geelong assistant coach and player Josh Jenkins told SEN on Sunday that he was a “99.9 per cent chance” to join the club. That’s probably worth taking with a grain of salt, but points to the current state of play.
Perennial contenders, Geelong has been a slight step behind the top teams across the 2026 season to date. Bad luck with key injuries to Jeremy Cameron and Max Holmes certainly hasn’t helped.
But adding Greene to their forward line and Butters to their starting midfield alongside Holmes and Bailey Smith would likely see them enter 2027 as premiership favourites.
Many will naturally question how the Cats can afford salary cap wise to add two superstars to their already stacked list. McClure points out that the parting of ways with Tyson Stengle this season has helped free up a few dollars.
“They’re going to have Tyson Stengle’s money coming off the books, I think they’ve re-done Jeremy Cameron’s deal and Patrick Dangerfield will be on a lot less next year,” McClure said.
The question for the Cats is how they can satisfy Port Adelaide in a trade, once the restricted free agency offer is matched.
Geelong currently holds picks 14, 32, 50 and 68, as well as their 2027 and 2028 first round picks.
The Power are unlikely to be moved by what will effectively be three first round picks in the late teens or early 20s, once father-son and academy bids are factored in, as well as Tasmania’s heavy control over the top of the 2027 and 2028 drafts.
Zak Butters has told Port Adelaide he is leaving. via Getty Images
The Cats offered Carlton three first round picks for key forward Charlie Curnow in 2025, but were rejected on similar grounds. Geelong were unwilling to put players into the trade to up their offer, which ultimately saw Sydney win the race.
Part of the issue for Port Adelaide is their need to ensure they not only get fair return for Butters, but they also must match an academy bid on star draftee Dougie Cochrane.
Cochrane is currently projected to be the No.1 pick in this year’s draft and given the AFL changed the draft bidding rules on the fly this season, the Power will need to secure 2,700 draft points to match a pick one bid.
The Power hold pick four (1,962 points), while Geelong’s pick will likely fall somewhere between 12 and 16.
That will look far less appealing to Port than Richmond’s pick two and still falls below the Bulldogs’ pick 10 or 11.
McClure wonders whether the Cats would include a player in the trade to help satisfy the Power.
“Port Adelaide needs another key defender. Maybe they go after a Sam De Koning or something like that to try and make it juicy enough because that will be Port Adelaide’s biggest issue,” McClure said.
Geelong clearly weren’t willing to throw players in last year, and will feel they have more leverage over Butters than they did with Curnow, given the former is out of contract.
One of the Cats’ weaker points over the last few seasons has been their midfield and in particular their ability to match the best contest and clearance teams.
They added Hawthorn midfielder James Worpel in last year’s trade period in the hopes of bolstering that area, but he has proven to largely be a depth piece.
Adding Butters, one of the game’s toughest midfielders who excels both at stoppage and on the outside of contests, will give them a perfect complementary weapon alongside run and carry guns like Smith, Holmes and Ollie Dempsey.
Greene would reunite with former GWS teammate Cameron and add another enormous threat inside 50 for the Cats.
Teams already have to plan for Cameron, Shannon Neale, Shaun Mannagh, Dangerfield and Ollie Henry; the Giants veteran provides another marking target and crafty finisher at ground level.
Shaun Mannagh of the Cats celebrates kicking a goal with Bailey Smith. Getty Images
He can also rotate through the midfield as a point of difference option as they already do with Dangerfield and Mannagh.
Geelong has been a consistent finals and premiership threat since winning the flag back in 2007. Every time it feels like an era is ending or a cliff is approaching, they find a way to morph and remain relevant.
Their future already feels secure thanks to their plethora of talent under the age of 26 including Smith, De Koning, Henry, Neale, Holmes, Dempsey, Lawson Humphries, Connor O’Sullivan and Tanner Bruhn.
Adding Butters, 25, in his prime alongside to that mix, will certainly extend their era of contention and be the club’s biggest acquisition since Dangerfield himself.
