‘Anyone else confused?’: Butters seals move before five-club mega trade

Zak Butters has finalised his move to the Western Bulldogs before five clubs engaged in a mega trade.

Port Adelaide, the Bulldogs, Melbourne, Hawthorn and Carlton were all involved in the mega deal after Butters had nominated Luke Beveridge’s club before the trade period started.

Port Adelaide lands pick 5 as compensation for Butters and has strengthened its draft hand after it with picks 6 and 10 as part of the five-club trade.

Butters played 156 games and kicked 73 goals for Port Adelaide and leaves the club as a three-time All Australian and won the best and fairest three times.

The 26-year-old has arrived at Whitten Oval as a restricted free agent, signing a nine-year $18 million deal.

As a childhood Bulldogs fan, Butters said the move felt like it had been “a long time coming” after a drawn out contract process over the last season.

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“Since I decided to commit to the Bulldogs, I have just wanted to get in the building as soon as possible and meet everyone,” he said.

“For me, I grew up looking up to the Bulldogs players and idolising them. To be in the position now to be that role model in the west that can hopefully inspire other kids to chase their dreams and play AFL, it is really special.

“Growing up as a Bulldogs supporter and growing up in the west, my parents and family all still live in the area, it is a special place to me.

“I’ll be so excited to run out in front of our fans. For a few years I probably thought it was never going to be possible – to put the colours on for the team you grew up loving and supporting.

Here is the run-down of what clubs will get in the mega trade:

PORT ADELAIDE

GET: Picks 6, 10, 2027 Rd 1 (tied to Melbourne), 2028 Rd 1 (tied to Western Bulldogs)

GIVE: Picks 4, 46, 81, 2027 Rd 2, 2027 Rd 3, 2027 Rd 4, 2028 Rd 2, 2028 Rd 3, 2028 Rd 4

WESTERN BULLDOGS

GET: Finn Maginness, Hudson O'Keeffe, picks 81, 87, 2027 Rd 2 (tied to Port Adelaide), 2027 Rd 3 (tied to Melbourne), 2027 Rd 4 (tied to Port Adelaide), 2028 Rd 2 (tied to Port Adelaide), 2028 Rd 3 (tied to Port Adelaide), 2028 Rd 4 (tied to Melbourne)

GIVE: Picks 12, 31, 2028 Rd 1

MELBOURNE

GET: Picks 4, 12, 31, 46

GIVE: Picks 6, 10, 87, 2027 Rd 1, 2027 Rd 3, 2028 Rd 4

HAWTHORN

GET: 2027 Rd 3 (tied to Port Adelaide)

GIVE: Finn Maginness

CARLTON

GET: 2028 Rd 4 (tied to Port Adelaide)

GIVE: Hudson O'Keeffe

Carlton’s social media team summed it up well by posting on social media: “anyone else confused”.