Multiple reports have indicated Geelong has jumped to the front of the queue for Zak Butters' signature.
The Cats, along with the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and Richmond, are vying for Butters, and some are producing mouth-watering offers.
The Bulldogs were believed to be the frontrunners, given the proximity to where he grew up and the fact that Butters supported the Whitten Oval club before entering the AFL.
The Pies and Tigers have tabled record-breaking offers, but remarkably, the Cats are now understood to be leading the chasing pack.
It comes not long after Collingwood offered $1.8 million per season for eight years.
Richmond triple premiership player Jack Riewoldt believes his former club is firming as a landing spot, saying last week Butters would consider the rebuilding Tigers.
“From what I've heard, Butters watches footy closely and has a long-term view on what his next step looks like,” he began on Fox Footy's On the Couch.
“I think about him looking at the Bulldogs the other night, and I know there's no Sam Darcy at the moment, (but) it gets me thinking about what's in the forefront of Butters' mind.
“Is he in the game to win a premiership next year? More than likely, he's going to sign an eight-year deal at whichever club he ends up at.
“And I just wonder whether it (his thinking) is ‘next year, I need to win a premiership', or ‘what does the next five to eight years look like?'
“And I think Zak Butters is the driver and potentially the captain."
Butters, even if he leaves, will show incredible loyalty to the club.
Butters is not willing to be walked to the draft by a rival. Instead, the Power leader is adamant the Alberton club must be compensated if he leaves as expected, according to the Herald Sun.
The midfielder's restricted free agency status is tipped to force a trade between Port Adelaide and the midfielder's preferred destination.
