A seven-club trade is forming during the AFL exchange period, and the Herald Sun reports the deal could set off wider movement around Butters.
The Herald Sun reported the story on Thursday, 8 October 2026. The same seven-club mega deal was also covered in a trade recap by afl.com.au, which said Melbourne is open to moving draft picks.
The reported link between the multi-club trade and Butters is the Herald Sun's framing, not a confirmed move. No completed deal involving him has been announced in the material available.
The wider trade period is already busy. North Melbourne has made a $12 million play for in-demand Blakey, according to SMH.com.au. Nine.com.au reported that a Victorian club's large offer had turned the Sydney star's head, while Fox Sports reported Sydney's hefty asking price for Blakey and said North Melbourne had been warned over a "heartstrings" approach.
Those reports concern separate negotiations from the seven-club deal. The connection between them is that all are live during the same trade window.
What to watch next: whether the seven-club trade is finalised, and whether any move for Butters follows.
