Melbourne may not be in the final Zak Butters discussion, and Steven King said the club is already working behind the scenes to stay in the race. That is the latest twist in afl trade news zak butters, with several Victorian clubs pushing for the Port Adelaide free agent.
King on Melbourne's chase
King did not hide the appeal of Butters. He said, “We'd be like every club that would love him, but from what you hear, it's down to a couple and we might not be part of that discussion,” as Melbourne weighs whether it can still land one of the market's most chased names.
He added, “We're certainly doing work behind the scenes in letting him know we're an option. But that's probably been played out for a year or so in advance already, so we'll wait and see.” The message is blunt: the Demons are interested, but the final group may already be narrowing without them.
Victoria's crowded Butters field
Butters is being sought after by the Western Bulldogs, Geelong, Hawthorn and Collingwood, leaving Melbourne to chase ground against clubs with the same target. King said he would love to welcome the Port Adelaide free agent to Melbourne, but his own read is that the club may already be outside the last round of talks.
If Port Adelaide cannot get Butters to sign on the dotted line, the Western Bulldogs are expected to bolster their midfield stocks. That keeps the focus on a player who could shift the balance of the off-season, with four clubs named in the mix before Melbourne's own position was made plain.
Melbourne's list and cap room
King's comments also tied the pursuit to Melbourne's own list shape. After the weekend against West Coast, he said, “We've got a good blend, but we're still the fourth youngest team on the weekend,” and added, “We had 11 players under 50 games (against West Coast). So we're in that stage, we've got a lot of mature-age experienced players that are currently injured that will hopefully come back in the next 2-4 weeks, which will make spots more competitive.”
He also pointed to what Melbourne can offer if the right player wants in. “I think everything is on the table at the end of the year going into the off-season. We've got two first-round picks, room in our (salary) cap. Hopefully, people among the industry are watching us play and think, 'I'd like to be part of that', and if they can make our club better, I think everything is on the table.”
King said he would like to add “a midfielder to your group with the way the game is played now” and described that target as someone who can play “inside-outside” and “dual position.” For Melbourne, that makes the Butters chase more than a name hunt: it is a test of whether the club's pitch can cut through a crowded market before the off-season opens in earnest.
