Zak Butters nominates the Western Bulldogs

September 12, 2026 — 10:07amZak Butters is poised to become a Bulldog after the in-demand star AFL midfielder nominated the Western Bulldogs as his club of choice.The preferred new home for Butters is a bombshell move that will drastically shape this year’s AFL trade period.The Port Adelaide star ended months of speculation about this future late last month when he confirmed he’s heading back to Victoria.Butters told Port officials at his exit meeting that he would exercise his restricted free agency rights to join a Victorian team.Butters’ decision ends at least 18 months of speculation about his playing future.“I’ve made the decision to head home,” the 25-year-old said last month.Jake Niall is a Walkley award-winning sports journalist and chief AFL writer for The Age.Connect via X or email.From our partners