As news broke on Saturday morning of Zak Butters nominating his preferred new home immediately turned the question to how a deal gets done.
Butters has made clear he wants the Power to receive adequate compensation for his departure after leaving on good terms after eight years of service.
The Western Bulldogs currently have Picks 12, 30 and 48 this year, as well as all of their picks in the 2027 and 2028 drafts.
The issue when discussing a deal of such magnitude is that the introduction of Tasmania from next year's AFL Draft will limit the Dogs' currency with draft selections.
Despite the strength of particularly next year's draft, a first rounder will ostensibly be a second rounder once the Devils' bevy of draft concessions are accounted for. Though it is worth mentioning the Power will be on the hunt for draft points to match likely high picks for a pair of club-tied talents in next year's draft.
It puts the incumbency on the Dogs to likely find a way to give the Power currency in this year's draft or give up a player - or both.
Below are three potential scenarios which could play out.
Option 2: Use the compromised 2027 draft advantageously
Port Adelaide get: 2026 first rounder (tied to Western Bulldogs), 2027 first rounder (tied to Western Bulldogs), 2027 first rounder (tied to Sydney, via Carlton), 2027 third rounder (tied to Western Bulldogs).
Western Bulldogs get: Zak Butters, 2026 third round selection.
Clubs are going to want to get out of next year's draft. That is certain.
This year's crop is viewed as deep and balanced, before Tasmania's entrance undermines the purity of next year's crop.
At a glance, the unattractiveness of next year's crop seems problematic.
But Port Adelaide is in a slightly different position.
Next Generation Academy tall Zemes Pilot and father-son midfielder Louis Salopek both look like first round options. Salopek has already formally nominated as a father-son and rejected Tasmania's offer to be part of the process of potential pre-selection.
What this means is where other clubs will be looking to clear the decks, and get into this year's draft, the Power will need early selections next year to have sufficient points to match likely early bids
Which presents an opportunity for the Bulldogs.
If they put their 2026 second rounder on the market for clubs seeking to trade in to next year's draft, some good offers would come, which would suit all parties.
For the sake of this exercise, we've used Carlton, as they would likely be wooed by the opportunity to get into this year's draft around that range as they look to secure a deal for key forward Joel Amartey.
With two first rounders currently in next year's draft as part of the Charlie Curnow trade last year, they would likely be open to getting back into this year's intake.
A deal would undoubtedly involve an exchange of later selections beyond just a 2026 second rounder from Western Bulldogs for a 2026 first rounder from Carlton (via Sydney) but that would form the basis of the selection and be shrewd strategic thinking from the Dogs.
