Zak Butters joins Western Bulldogs on nine-year deal

Zak Butters has officially joined the Western Bulldogs as a free agent, signing a nine-year contract valued at approximately $2 million per season. The 26-year-old midfielder, a three-time All Australian, moves from Port Adelaide to return to Victoria.

During his unveiling at Whitten Oval, Butters revealed he had considered making his departure from Port Adelaide public during his final season. However, he noted that the current AFL landscape is not yet prepared for such transparency, contrasting the system with the NRL, where players can announce deals with rival clubs earlier in their contract terms.

While several clubs including Geelong, Collingwood, and Richmond courted the midfielder, Butters stated he did not finalize his decision until returning to his family property near Melbourne following the conclusion of the season.