Port’s Zac Butters nominates Western Bulldogs as preferred AFL club
Posted Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 12:58pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 12:58pmSat 12 Sep 2026 at 12:58pm
In short:
Port Adelaide midfielder Zak Butters has informed the Western Bulldogs of his desire to join the club.
In August, the three-time best and fairest winner requested to leave the club via free agency and return home to Victoria.
What’s next:
The Bulldogs says the club will work with Port Adelaide to facilitate a suitable outcome during the upcoming player movement period.
Port Adelaide midfielder Zac Butters has nominated Western Bulldogs as his preferred club, weeks after announcing his decision to head home to Victoria.
In a statement on Saturday morning, the Western Bulldogs confirmed Butters had informed the club of his desire to join.
“The club will work with Port Adelaide to facilitate a suitable outcome during the upcoming player movement period,” the Bulldogs said.
The 25-year-old dual All-Australian’s future had dominated headlines during the season with reports of offers of up to $18 million over eight years from Richmond, Geelong, Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs.
On August 24, he announced his decision to “head home”, saying it was a “tough decision and one that I haven’t taken lightly”.
“Although I’ve loved my time in Adelaide … I’m probably at a stage in my life where I’d like to get back around some family and friends and enjoy some more time with them,” he said at the time.