Zak Butters joins Western Bulldogs on record-breaking $18 million AFL deal as Port Adelaide accepts compensation

Zak Butters has joined the Western Bulldogs, with Port Adelaide letting the superstar walk as a free agent after the AFL ticked off a separate five-club deal.

The Power have opted not to match the Bulldogs’ contract for the 26-year-old running machine, accepting pick No.5 as compensation.

A three-time All-Australian, Butters has reportedly signed the biggest deal in AFL history - a nine-year contract worth about $2 million a season.

He caught the football world off-guard, requesting a trade to the Bulldogs after being strongly linked to Geelong.

The boyhood Bulldogs supporter from Darley, west of Melbourne, said the move had been a long time coming.

“For a few years I probably thought it was never going to be possible - to put the colours on for the team you grew up loving and supporting,” Butters said in a statement.

His arrival at the Bulldogs is a significant boost to their 2027 premiership chances, with star forward Sam Darcy set to return from injury.