Western Bulldogs

The Western Bulldogs won the race for Zak Butters, but "it wasn't quite clear-cut that they were the front runners," Port Adelaide list manager Jason Cripps says. Port "had some work to do behind the scenes" with Butters and Peter Lenton on how his exit played out.

Sam Darcy has "done a tiny bit of running" and, as far as Western Bulldogs list boss Michael Regan knows, his rehab is "tracking along as scheduled". Darcy was in for rehab every day, and Regan thinks he is now at Oktoberfest in Germany.

The two picks from the Brisbane trade could be packaged "with another one to come up the order", Western Bulldogs list boss Michael Regan says. A list spot for a supplemental signing aged 22-27, after Louis Emmett's success, is "in our heads" but "not a fixed thought".

Finn Maginness has "2-way running power at speed" "in spades", Western Bulldogs list boss Michael Regan says, though "months might be a bit strong" for how long the chase ran. Matthew and Luke Kennedy "started to appear" in the midfield late in the year, he said.

Hudson O'Keeffe and Finn Maginness weren't Plan B: Bulldogs list boss Michael Regan says "we were well advanced in conversations with them before Zak actually made his choice." Landing Zak Butters took everyone from Luke Beveridge to the president: "everyone played their part."

Laitham Vandermeer explored his options, but Western Bulldogs list boss Michael Regan says there were no talks on 14 October. "We look forward to Laitham getting the bit between the teeth and becoming the best version of himself next year."

The trade with Brisbane was about keeping flexibility, Western Bulldogs list boss Michael Regan says: "We were able to do that trade that gives us a little bit of a better draft hand this year, whether that's for bidding matching or picking players, time will tell."

Hudson O'Keeffe "ripped us apart" late in the year, but the Western Bulldogs were already tracking him, list boss Michael Regan says. The Carlton recruit "brings some aerial presence for us in the ruck and up forward," though Regan conceded his body has frustrated him lately.

Finn Maginness was brought in to replace the "uncompromising edge" the Western Bulldogs lost when Tom Liberatore retired, list boss Michael Regan says. The Hawthorn recruit also showed in the VFL this year that he can be damaging in the front half.

Western Bulldogs list boss Michael Regan says the club's hand of future picks lets it read and react on draft night, and possibly in the pick swap period, so "we might be able to position ourselves to match Khaled" El-Souki if a rival bids on him.

Jordon Butts was recruited for "that one-on-one defending and an ability to halve contests", Western Bulldogs list boss Michael Regan says, but a slightly different defensive system might unlock more of the free agent's ball use and offence.

Zak Butters says ankle surgery won't cost him round 1 at the Western Bulldogs. He "lent towards different clubs at different stages" but never told Geelong they were his pick. He weighed revealing his move home a year early: "the AFL landscape isn't probably quite ready for it."

Zach Butters is a Western Bulldog on a long-term, big-money deal. List boss Michael Regan: "Is this a risk? Yes. Is it a calculated risk? Absolutely." Laitham Vandermeer has drawn no firm inquiries, but the club would assess a fair-value offer if he wants a fresh start.

"Not even for a second." Western Bulldogs list boss Michael Regan on whether trading Timothy English was considered. Rory Lobb stays too: contracted and "able to play three pretty integral roles". Finn Maginness adds midfield toughness; Jordon Butts frees up the back half.

Tasmania lets the Bulldogs "zig a little bit this year" and "maybe zag in the next couple of years and bank some extra picks", list boss Michael Regan says, eyeing the 2027 and 2028 drafts. Recruiting focus: ages 22 to 27; Hudson O'Keeffe will develop with the young core.

Zak Butters on joining the Western Bulldogs after a long process: "once I knew, I just wanted to get it done." Raised a Bulldogs supporter in the west, he caught the train from Bacchus Marsh to the 2016 finals, "still one of my favourite days," and wants to "run that back."