"This is extraordinary levels of shady." | First Thoughts - The Zak Butters Deal (18.09.26)
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What would Port Adelaide realistically do with Zak Butters in a questionable trade?
What would you do if you were Port with Butters? Your Port... See, this is almost an impossible question. Your Port, you can't do any funny buggers, which is the right call. You can't be trading Todd Marshall for two first-round picks. We get it. There's no side deals. That's done. And we'll get to Sammy Ebbing's thoughts on that.
Why do the hosts describe the proposed Zak Butters deal as the shadiest trade ever?
He's got some strong ones a little bit later on when he joins us. So what do you do if you're Port?
So this conversation really interests me. I know Sammy's keen to have it later on as well. I'm still phoning up the AFL with the same deal. So you're going to tell me what these players are worth, and I'm going with the exact same deal. And I'm going to say, you're going to deny it. Put in writing why you're denying this.
How might the AFL’s trade‑approval process affect the Port‑Bulldogs deal?
Put in writing because you seem to move the goalposts. So tell me why we can't do this because it's the first time that this would have happened. It's pretty shady. But it's always been shady.
This would be the most shady trade in trade history. But we've had these things happen for years. Not this shady. Yes, we have.
What strategies could Port Adelaide use to ‘muddy the waters’ if the trade is blocked?
This is extraordinary levels of shady. And the backlash, I don't think the AFL can see through. And that's why they've clarified that, which I think is the right thing to do. No. They've got different systems. So you must have a backup plan, though. So if the AFL said, no, we have to sign off on every trade. We've told you we're not signing off on this.
Is the pick‑five swap and record contract for Butters fair to the rest of the league?
Then what do you do if you're poor? You muddy the
waters. You put more picks in. You put picks from next year, the year after. You just muddy the waters. So just
try and confuse
everyone. Yeah. Well, you just say to the AFL, who are you sitting here removed from the game to tell us what a pick in 2028's worth or a pick in 2029?
What are the hosts’ final thoughts on the fallout and future of this controversial trade?
We're going to get this deal done. This deal is getting done. There will be a deal that gets done. And it will involve what it needs to involve to serve as Port Adelaide. And they're taking a stance on a team that's going to be down the bottom of the ladder, which I don't really understand.
Yeah, well, I also think they're taking a stand on the Western Bulldogs. And that was sort of where my focus is. Is it fair that there's the pick five, which is not theirs, that goes to Port, and they end up getting Zach Butters on the richest contract ever, and they give up pick 12 and a future first? That's hardly fair for everyone else. But anyway, Sammy Edmonds is going to chat to us about that. A little bit later on, as is Sam Mitchell. Your feedback and the agenda still to come.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What would Port Adelaide realistically do with Zak Butters in a questionable trade?
0:00–0:19
2
Why do the hosts describe the proposed Zak Butters deal as the shadiest trade ever?
0:19–0:44
3
How might the AFL’s trade‑approval process affect the Port‑Bulldogs deal?
0:44–1:09
4
What strategies could Port Adelaide use to ‘muddy the waters’ if the trade is blocked?
1:09–1:31
5
Is the pick‑five swap and record contract for Butters fair to the rest of the league?
1:31–1:51
6
What are the hosts’ final thoughts on the fallout and future of this controversial trade?
1:51–2:31
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from SEN Breakfast
In The Gun (18.09.26)
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell (18.09.26)
SEN chief sports reporter Sam Edmund (18.09.26)
First Thoughts (18.09.26)
"It is the hottest field." | First Thoughts - Adam Simpson and North Melbourne (18.09.26)
"I think it's an awful time to be doing this." | First Thoughts - GWS and Toby Greene (18.09.26)