Zak Butters signs record nine-year contract with Western Bulldogs

Zak Butters has officially joined the Western Bulldogs on a record nine-year contract valued between $17 million and $17.5 million. The deal, which the AFL approved following a complex exchange involving five clubs and multiple draft picks, represents the largest total contract in AFL history.

Butters, 26, noted that the opportunity to play alongside club captain Marcus Bontempelli was a significant factor in his decision. He expressed a desire to learn from Bontempelli, whom he described as an inspiration, while contributing to what he believes is a team on the cusp of “something special.”