Former Port Adelaide assistant coach Chad Cornes has predicted that one of the biggest free agents will leave their club at the end of next year.
Port Adelaide vice-captain Zak Butters will have to decide whether to stay at the club or leave next year, with many clubs chasing the two-time All-Australian who has played 139 games for the club after being selected with pick 12 in the 2018 draft.
Chad Cornes, who was recently fired from the Power coaching group, explained Butters' love of the Western Bulldogs as one reason he may leave the club.
“I love ‘Buttsy’, he’s such a great guy,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.
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“If I had to make a prediction, I think he goes this time next year.
“I would be saying that he loves the Bulldogs, just a real hardcore Bulldogs supporter before he got drafted.
“I don’t want to make a big call too early.”
Butters will be a restricted free agent at the end of next year, which means that teams will have to trade for him or the highly unlikely option of going through the national draft if the Power match the contract given to him.
The other option is that the Power doesn't match an opposing team's contract, allowing him to leave and receive compensation for it, similar to Tom De Koning leaving Carlton for St Kilda, which saw the Blues receive pick number 10 as compensation.
Co-host Kane Cornes asked brother Chad what Butters thought of Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge, which elicited a laugh, considering the history between Kane and Beveridge.
“Hopefully more than you,” Chad said, laughing.