Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters is a certainty to depart the club at the end of the season, according to Channel 7’s Caroline Wilson.
The Power have yet to be officially told by Butters or his management that he will leave, but have accepted it will happen.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Zak Butters set to leave Port Adelaide
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
Butters, who qualifies as a restricted free agent, has maintained he will make his decision up at the end of the year.
Victorian clubs have been queuing up for his signature with the Western Bulldogs long been considered the frontrunners, while Geelong are also right in the mix.
But in recent days, Richmond have emerged as a potential landing spot with a rumoured $18m, eight-year offer on the table.
Butters, who has been captaining Port Adelaide since Connor Rozee went down with a serious injury in Round 2, was in Melbourne recently during the Power’s bye week talking to clubs.
“Port Adelaide have accepted the fact now that he’s going to be leaving, although they vehemently deny any sort of suggestion that he’s told them yet,“ Wilson reported on The Agenda Setters.
“We know he spoke to the Bulldogs over Port’s bye round. We believe he’s also spoken to the Richmond Football Club, among others.
“I think maybe Collingwood as well. Nick Dacos has been absolutely working on his great friend, Zak Butters, to come to Collingwood.
“He has a relationship with Sam Lalor at Richmond. And, of course, Port would love and are telling people they want to deal with the Richmond Football Club and only the Richmond Football Club.
“The Bulldogs believe they are in the box seat.”
Wilson said everyone in the situation might be better off if Butters could be “honest” about his future.
“I believe they now know that he’s going. But Zak Butters hasn’t told them that,” she continued.
“And I just wonder whether it would be better for everyone if they knew. I’m not sure. I know we talk about the industry growing up. And we know Phil Davis was honest and said he was going to GWS.
“I think there are people in Zak’s camp who probably think it would be great if he could be more honest about it.”
Wilson argued that the club could then move on with plans surrounding other plans with Butters’ decision set to create a domino effect around the league.
“Because I think Port could make plans. I think they could make plans with Mitch Georgiades,” she said.
“I also think if you know, you can start dealing with the club you want to deal with. And Zak can start talking about the club he wants to go to.
“And other players can make decisions about their future. There is going to be a major domino effect.
“And I know people are making plans that will happen when Zak finally does tell Port that he’s leaving.
“But I am 100 per cent now that he’s leaving.”
St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt hoped the club could be mature enough to handle the situation “because they could turn on you pretty quickly”.
Wilson added: “It is raw and it’s your captain. I mean, we’ve all thought all year that he was going. But I’ve got some sympathy for Port and what they’re going through now.”
The Agenda Setters host Craig Hutchison maintains Richmond are “very well placed” in the race.
“They’ll get paid very, very well picks-wise. And Richmond are a super well placed here if they play this right. I just think they’ve got a real opportunity here, the Tigers. He is perfect for them,” he said.
But Wilson said no offer has been tabled yet and they haven’t “absolutely made up their mind that this is the way they should go at this point in their development”.
