Coach ‘concerned’ superstar will snub Dogs as trade race heats up
Updated . First published at
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge admits he remains “none the wiser” regarding Zak Butters′ thoughts on joining the club at Whitten Oval, with rival Geelong emerging as a strong contender in the blockbuster trade race.
In the fierce battle to lure the star midfielder away from Port Adelaide, the Bulldogs have long been considered the frontrunners. The club is buoyed by ample salary cap space and Butters’ childhood allegiance to the Dogs.
Luke Beveridge speaks on the trade rumours on Footy Classified. Footy Classified
However, Butters’ upbringing in regional Victoria presents a significant geographical advantage for the Cats, admits Beveridge.
“I’m none the wiser,” Beveridge said as a guest panellist on Nine’s Footy Classified when asked about the rumours.
“I’ve probably done my bit over the journey with Zak, and I’m sure that the Cats’ representatives have too.
“But now I think behind the scenes, the list management teams are working feverishly to convince Port Adelaide, and still to convince Zak that we’re the right club for him.
“But as far as any indication as to who he might choose, I have no idea.”
Butters is set to receive one of the game’s most lucrative contracts, regardless of whether he chooses Geelong or the Bulldogs.
While Geelong has been the frontrunner performance-wise in recent weeks, Beveridge hopes the Bulldogs remain firmly in the hunt despite his lingering fears.
“It’s hard to go down a path with your thinking other than - if you want to really start to be concerned - is the geography. I mean, Darley, his home town and how relative it is to metropolitan Melbourne versus Geelong or the Bellarine Peninsula, or whatever’s being sold to him down there,” Beveridge explained further.
“We were just hoping that he’d want to come and be immersed in the western suburbs and live in Williamstown or somewhere like that.
“So the geography is the one for me that I’ve been concerned about; it still sticks in my head. I’m hoping he can get through that.”
Complicating matters for the Bulldogs at the trade table, Nine’s Cal Twomey suggested a high draft pick might be the key to satisfying Port Adelaide - draft capital the Bulldogs currently lack.
Beveridge hopes that Butters will still choose the Western Bulldogs. Getty Images
“I’m growing more and more of the view that pick No.5, the free agency compensation pick, will become part of the overall transaction and package that will end up going to Port Adelaide,” Twomey told the panel.
But Beveridge hopes the club’s stability and Butters’ existing relationships will be enough to tip the scales in his favour.
“But as far as the potential of which club might be successful in the future, I’m sure Zak’s seeing some really good signs from us. It’s hard to have a crystal ball, but he knows that we’re a club that is solid, we’ve got great people and he’s met a lot of them,” Beveridge said.
“He played with a few of them from both teams in the state game, so he’s had a connection already.”
The Cats and Bulldogs both play elimination finals this week, against Carlton on Friday and Adelaide on Saturday respectively.
