Adelaide have made it clear that defender Jordon Butts won’t be leaving the club despite growing interest from Victorian sides ahead of his free agency year in 2026.
The Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne both sounded out the Crows about a possible trade in recent weeks, viewing Butts as a ready-made solution for their defensive gaps.
However, Adelaide have reportedly ruled out any move for the 25-year-old, who remains contracted for another season.
Butts endured a stop-start 2025 campaign, missing five weeks with a collapsed lung and finishing the year in the SANFL after ten senior appearances. Despite that, his profile as a tall, composed key back continues to attract interest from rival recruiters.
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Bulldogs back off after early talks
The Bulldogs, in particular, have been active in their search for a defensive pillar, first targeting Jack Silvagni before his switch to St Kilda, and later attempting to lure Cal Wilkie from the Saints.
Butts was also discussed in preliminary talks with Adelaide, but is no longer being pursued.
With Greater Western Sydney’s Jack Buckley re-signing last month, Butts now shapes as one of the most appealing free agent defenders in next year’s market, alongside Richmond’s Ben Miller. For now, though, Adelaide are standing firm, determined not to lose another key piece of their backline rebuild.