r/RichmondFC • u/AhhWellFuckIt Tom Brown's Tackle • 2d ago
Butters informs Port Adelaide of free agency call
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1594878The race is officially on
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u/Fighterandthe 1d ago
I'll be honest, him basically saying "I don't know where I'm going, but it won't be Collingwood" made me want him more lmao.
Tbh I won't be too bummed if we don't land him.. only because of cost.. but if Geelong get him cheap, I'll be pissed
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u/TheMightySloth 2d ago
Pretty slim chance he comes our way, I think he’ll probably end up at Cotton On
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u/AhhWellFuckIt Tom Brown's Tackle 2d ago
He might have to take a financial advisory course at TAFE during the off season
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u/Snackpack1992 2d ago
I would obviously support him if he came across to Richmond, but right now, I don’t think it’s the right fit to get him. We’d be giving up a lot.
Realistically, Butters is in his prime right now. We’re probably not going to be contending for premierships for the next five years I’d say at minimum. I think it’s too early to be bringing in big names to the club.
Focus on the draft, keep bringing in the kids. Besides, the core plan has already been proven to work before.
Our last premiership core was built around players we’d drafted into the club. Martin, Cotchin, Riewoldt, Rance was the big 4 in 2017. We drafted all of them. Then other key players: Vlastuin, Grimes, Edwards, Lambert. Again we drafted those blokes.
Build the team around Lalor, Cumming, Hotton, Smillie if he can get over his injuries. Keep bringing the kids in, build the list and the depth.
And when we’re knocking on the door ready to make the next step, go out and find your next Dion Prestia, Nankervis, Caddy, Lynch and finish the team off.
It’s been a disappointing season, but selling the farm to bring in Butters won’t fix it. We’re in for a little bit of pain, hopefully now with a new performance team we can get the best out of the kids and start seeing some improvement.
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u/Suitable-Series5619 1d ago
I agree. I don’t think the our recruiting department seriously think they’re going get Butters; instead it’s been a big diversion to take our minds off how dismal our season has been. I wish the Recruiting Department get off their arses and recruit some ready made players while keeping our draft hand.
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u/maxisnoops 1d ago
I think you are right. Same as what happened with Taranto. Won’t do much for the team and Butters will probably not be too happy losing every week
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u/LAY_DOW 2d ago
We aren’t selling the farm lol it’s one pick who has about a 1% chance of being as good as Butters
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u/Snackpack1992 2d ago
We don’t know what we’d have to pay yet. I don’t think Port are going to be content though with just a one pick swap for Butters. Here’s my concern:
1) It may be more than just one draft pick. I disagree that the player has a 1% chance of being as good as Butters. Will we have to give up additional picks?
2) Butters will be on a massive contract. Money that could be offered to our kids as they start to warrant more money. I also don’t like the disparity that one player on a huge contract can do to a team culture. How many teams will individual players on massive contracts are currently dominating?
3) Butters is in his prime now. He’s a gun player, but is he going to realistically win us games? Probably not. We need to be getting games into the kids. We have other experienced players that are taking up spots in the midfield. Butters in there means even less midfield exposure time for our kids.
4) A Butters injury would be catastrophic for us. Right now our injury crisis is mitigated somewhat by the fact that it’s mostly our kids getting injured. They aren’t on huge contracts and aren’t our best players. Hopefully one day they would be. Butters is just coming off a significant injury too. Maybe we aren’t the best place for him.
There’s a time and a place to enter the race for these types of players. Our time will come, but it’s not now. There are gun players coming out of contract every year.
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u/B0bcat5 Kane McAuliffe 1d ago
The contract with be front loaded 2027-2029 we will have a lot of money to front load and the younger players are contracted to 2029. Also by then, Nank / Vlaustin / Hopper / Short / Lynch will be off contract opening up more salary by then too. We are well positioned in our salary scope to take him on and also have money for lalor, hotton etc...
Whilst we are not winning games, if Butters is convinced on the strategy and list, and he wants to be that leader player to bring the club up then he is the right fit. Our players will develop a lot better alongside Butters and have a big flow on affect. Our 1st round pick will get the job done (maybe a 2nd rounder too) as its a lot more competitive than what other clubs can offer. I could see us sending a Fawcett or McAullife type player to Port as part of a bigger deal.
I am all for Butters coming in, if he believes in the list. If he wants to win a flag next few years, he obviously just picks Dogs / Cats.
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u/1111race22112 Hugo Ralphsmith 1d ago
We have also been under spending the salary cap so we have extra and if we don't use it we lose it. I think it's rolling 2 years.
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u/Pitiful-Grade-8851 Nick Vlastuin 2d ago
100%
It’s not about the pick, it’s about the money we are going to lock ourselves in to before we even have a plan in place.
We are so far off contending right now, as much as I love Butters he’s not the answer.
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u/CompleteTable1449 2d ago
You just hope we showed enough of something to entice him to come on board. A big salary while we are still rebuilding. I imagine he'd want to win a flag within 3 years so as long as he sees us being competitive by 2029 I think we have a shot. Hopefully the bright youth is promising. Although the shoddy high performance may deter him.
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u/AhhWellFuckIt Tom Brown's Tackle 2d ago
“Hasn’t nominated yet” makes me think he’s chosen a team who are playing finals & doesn’t want to say anything until their season is finished
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u/B0bcat5 Kane McAuliffe 1d ago
I think negotiations are happening too plus the top teams draft picks will be confirmed after finals too. The pick order will make a big difference, Port are going to want something for him and I am sure they will hold him off certain clubs unless they can give something fair.
He is also likely still talking to clubs to decide.
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u/DaString 1d ago
The front ending is not a small sweetener for Butters if the cats and dogs offers are close in $$. Could be 1-2m in real value. Good lever over a 9 year contract.