ZAK BUTTERS this week landed at the Western Bulldogs as a free agent on a nine-year deal worth $2 million a season – and AFL.com.au's Cal Twomey was at the forefront bringing you all the exclusive news as it happened.

Cal led the way throughout, breaking major developments from Port's huge contract offer and the rival interest in Butters through to his decision to leave and his eventual nomination of the Dogs. Cal also revealed the 11-year-old fan's letter that helped shape Butters' decision before detailing the Bulldogs' pitch and securing his first interview after the move.

Relive all of the action from start to finish in Zak Butters' free agency timeline below.

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Port's lucrative offer to gun mid 'the biggest deal in history'

PORT Adelaide has offered star midfielder Zak Butters the biggest deal in AFL history, as revealed by AFL.com.au's Cal Twomey. 

On AFL.com.au's trade and draft show, Gettable, Twomey said the Power had tabled a two-year extension to the 24-year-old, with an option to extend it by a further six years in a bid to ensure Butters re-signs beyond his 2026 contract.

>> Read more about Port Adelaide's initial offers to Zak Butters HERE

Cashed-up Victorian giant enters the race for Power superstar

RICHMOND has thrown its hat in the ring for Zak Butters, with the cashed-up Tigers ready to hit the free agency market. 

Butters has been strongly linked to the Western Bulldogs and Geelong for nearly a year as the Port Adelaide gamebreaker weighs his future, but it can be revealed the Tigers are also in the chase for the superstar midfielder.

Richmond is understood to be willing to put forward what would be the biggest deal in football history to try and lure Butters to Punt Road, with a price tag of close to $2 million expected for at least eight years for his next contract. 

>> Read more about Richmond's pursuit of Butters HERE

Pies make bold play for Port superstar with club-record offer

COLLINGWOOD has made a bold financial play for Port Adelaide free agent Zak Butters, tabling a club-record deal for the superstar midfielder. 

The Magpies have long been keen on Butters and met with him earlier this season, using their champion Nick Daicos in their pitch.

They were seen to be further back in the pack of Victorian clubs chasing Butters, with Geelong, the Western Bulldogs and Richmond all desperate to land the 25-year-old as he gets set to depart Alberton Oval at the end of this season and return to Victoria.

>> Read more about Collingwood's pitch to Butters with a club-record offer

Butters speaks after informing Port Adelaide of free agency call

ZAK Butters has officially informed Port Adelaide he will be leaving the club via free agency.

After more than a year of conjecture about his future, Butters' brilliant career at Alberton Oval is over as it was confirmed on Monday that Port's No.9 would be exercising his free agency rights to return to Victoria this off-season.

Butters has not yet nominated a club, with Geelong, the Western Bulldogs, Richmond and Collingwood all chasing his services across this year.

>> Read more about Butters telling the Power of his decision to leave and explore free agency

Victorian powerhouse out of the race for Zak Butters

THE ZAK Butters race is down to three clubs after the outgoing Port Adelaide superstar ruled out Collingwood from his considerations.

The Power on Monday made official Butters' plans to exercise his free agency rights and return to Victoria.

The gun midfielder hasn't nominated a preferred home, but AFL.com.au can reveal it won't be the Magpies, who were informed later on Monday they had been ruled out.

>> Read more about the Magpies being out of the race for Butters

All three remaining offers are lifted to be nine-year deals

Cal reports on X that Geelong, Richmond and the Western Bulldogs all have NINE-year deals on the table for Zak Butters. "That would take him through to 2035. Butters favouring Cats but no nominated club as all work through trade offers and options for Port Adelaide," he says.

The decision is down to two 

Cal and Josh Gabelich discuss on AFL Daily that the race for Butters is down to two clubs, with Geelong and the Western Bulldogs in the mix for his services.

Butters' big call: Superstar makes his choice of new club

ZAK Butters has nominated the Western Bulldogs as his preferred new home in a bombshell move that will shape this year's trade period.

AFL.com.au can reveal that the departing Port Adelaide superstar has finally made the call that has dominated the headlines this year about his future.  

The restricted free agent has been weighing up his decision between Geelong and the Western Bulldogs after narrowing it to the two clubs recently and has settled on the Dogs after an agonising call.

>> Read more about Butters making his decision to nominate the Dogs as his preferred home

'Please come to the Doggies': How a young fan's letter helped Butters make his call

A LETTER from an 11-year-old Western Bulldogs fan pleading for Zak Butters to join the Dogs can be revealed as an unlikely key moment in the superstar free agent's decision to join his boyhood club.

AFL.com.au revealed on Saturday morning that Butters had nominated the Western Bulldogs as his preferred new home, having agonised between the Bulldogs and Geelong as his choice after departing Port Adelaide.

And more light can be shed on the decision that saw Butters ultimately move away from choosing the Cats to land on the Bulldogs, including a letter that was hand-delivered to his letterbox in western Victoria last week.

>> Read more about how an 11-year-old's letter helped sway Butters' decision

How the Dogs' very own Disney movie helped land Butters

THE WESTERN Bulldogs commissioned and produced a short film as part of their pitch to Zak Butters through the year, in a move that ultimately helped tug at the superstar's heart strings to choose the Dogs as his new home.

The Bulldogs on Friday lodged their free agency paperwork to sign Butters, with Port Adelaide having until Monday afternoon to either take the No.5 compensation pick or match the deal and force a trade.

But the lengths to which the Bulldogs went to win over Butters through his decision year can be further revealed, with AFL.com.au able to detail the documentary the Dogs shot, produced and wrote to show Butters in their presentation to him mid-year.

>> Read the inside story of the Bulldogs' pitch to Butters

Zak Butters reveals the moment he decided to leave Port, and what he made of the Pies, Tigers and Cats

ZAK Butters describes it as having his "lightbulb moment".

After months of swaying from one club to another and then back again on where he would play in 2027 and beyond, it was a visit to his farm that ultimately proved influential.

As the race for the most sought after signature in the AFL came to a head late in the season, Western Bulldogs list manager Michael Regan, who had led the chase for the Port Adelaide superstar since joining the Dogs at the start of 2025, asked Butters for one more catch up. He drove to Butters' Darley property, about 40 minutes west of Whitten Oval, and put it all on the line as Geelong loomed as Butters' favoured destination.

>> Read Cal's exclusive interview with Zak Butters after joining the Dogs