Western Bulldogs youngster Ryley Sanders is more than willing to give up his No.9 if it helps sweeten the deal to land Port Adelaide free agent Zak Butters.
The Bulldogs are understood to be leading the race for Butters' signature, with the Power willing to do everything to keep the gun midfielder, while Geelong, Hawthorn, Essendon and Collingwood are among those chasing.
Sanders, speaking on Triple M, is happy to accommodate a potential new teammate to bring him to the Whitten Oval, even if it means giving up his locker.
"I've already told all the boys he can have it if he wants," Sanders said.
@triplemfooty Would Ryley give up No. 9 for Zak? “I've already told the boys he can have it if he wants it!” 😂👏 #afl #footy #westernbulldogs ♬ original sound - Triple M Footy
"If that's a part of the deal, and says I'm only coming if I get No.9, I'll happily slide across onto another number. If he does come, I might have to get a bit of cash off him for it."
Butters opened up on the life-changing decision in May ahead of his 150th AFL game.
"It's obviously a big decision," Butters said.
"You think about everything ... there's emotion attached to it, definitely. No matter what the decision is, it's going to be a pretty emotional one from my end, no matter what I do."
The two-time All-Australian says he is focusing on his football, which involves leading the Power as stand-in captain in the absence of Connor Rozee.
"Honestly, I haven't even spoken to my family too much about it," Butters said.
"I have just really enjoyed having them at games and playing footy.
"And I always said I'd probably think about it more in the back half of the year.
"Just like 150 games, it creeps up on you quickly. So it's probably something I need to start having some conversations around with family and friends and people I'm closest to."
However, coming into his line of thinking, if club greats and fellow Victorians Travis Boak and Robbie Gray.
The pair remained in Alberton for the duration of their careers, holding the mantle as one-club stars.
"It's my job to play footy, I enjoy playing footy as well," Butters said.
"It's really exciting where the group is at the moment, a few young boys coming through.
"I look back and think I need to be what Travis (Boak) and Robbie (Gray), how they were for me.
"Footy clubs go on a cycle. It's my time now to give back to them and try to make them the best player they can be."
