Western Bulldogs improve Zak Butters offer, Zane Duursma Melbourne pay cut if top pick left North Melbourne, Jesse Hogan could team up with Jamarra Ugle-Hagan Gold Coast Suns

A top-five pick could take less money to leave his club, while one of Zak Butters’ suitors has improved their offer to try and blow rivals out of the water.

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DOGS’ LAST DITCH BID TO LAND BUTTERS

The Western Bulldogs have reportedly improved their offer for Zak Butters in a last-ditch attempt to have him select them over Geelong.

Having long been viewed as the favourite, the Bulldogs now appear behind the Cats in the pecking order for the wantaway Port Adelaide midfielder.

That has seen the club increase its offer according to SEN, hoping better financial terms can blow the Cats away.

The Cats run a relatively strict salary structure and generally ask players to take less than they could earn elsewhere to play at a successful club.

Sam Edmund reports all of the Cats, Bulldogs and Richmond are offering “long-term deals worth somewhere between $1.8-$2 million per season”.

AFL Media reported on Thursday the Bulldogs’ offer is close to $17 million over nine years, suggesting a salary figure around the middle of that range reported by Edmund.

“You’re always working out what can do. Have you spent everything you can? Not literally in regards to the dollar, but is there any more you can do? Is there another angle?” Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said on AFL 360 last week.

“So sometimes you hear those rumours (Geelong being in the box seat) and they’re valid and other times they’re misdirected.

“We’re not sure of the impact of it, but it could be true and we’ve got to continue to do what we can to see if we can bring Zak in.”

Edmund also reported Butters would consider not nominating a specific club, and taking into account which of his Victorian suitors could do the best deal for Port Adelaide’s purposes.

That would likely give Richmond a much greater chance of signing the superstar given they hold Pick 2 in the draft, while the Bulldogs’ pick is likely to be a mid-round pick and the Cats’ will be even later.

‘REAL INTEREST’: TOP ROOS PICK COULD TAKE LESS CASH AT DEES

Top-five pick Zane Duursma would take a pay cut if he moved from North Melbourne to Melbourne, reports 7News Melbourne’s Tom Morris.

Duursma, who remains out of contract, was taken by the Kangaroos with Pick 4 in the 2023 draft – three selections before Melbourne took Caleb Windsor with Pick 7. The Demons tracked Duursma closely in his draft year, which included two games for Melbourne’s VFL affiliate Casey in 2023.

Speaking on Channel 7 on Wednesday night, Morris reported Duursma had short-term offers on the table at both North Melbourne and Melbourne, but there was a decent pay gap between the deals.

“There’s real interest from Melbourne,” Morris said. “This is a deal that, I think, if he leaves from North Melbourne to the Demons, he’ll be getting paid less than what he’d be getting paid at North Melbourne.

“I think it’s two years at the Roos, two years at the Dees – but on a lot less money. So it’s not like he’s leaving for greater financial gain. He might just want a fresh start in a new environment.”

It’s not the first time the 38-gamer has been linked with an exit from the Roos, with Essendon also circling him last year.

And Morris’ co-host Mitch Cleary on Wednesday night reported Duursma was spotted having dinner with multiple Bombers players earlier this week.

“He had his exit meeting last week at North Melbourne. He was out for the rest of the season with that shoulder injury,” Cleary told Channel 7.

“Hasn’t informed them of his desire to leave, but he was spotted having a steak (Tuesday) night with a couple of Essendon players: His brother (Xavier), Vigo Visentini and Nic Martin.

“The Essendon footy club had interest last year. I don’t think it’s as strong, but they are still having a look around at Zane Duursma.”

Morris added: “I think they (the Bombers) are asking the question, but Melbourne is very much in front.”

ROOS WELL PLACED TO LAND CONTRACTED CROW

North Melbourne is set to land Adelaide key defender Nick Murray during the trade period, reports The Age.

Murray is contracted to Adelaide for another two years, but has played 11 games this year, with only three of them coming after Round 9.

The Age had previously reported Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson had “spoken with” Murray, while 7News Adelaide last week indicated North had “tabled a long-term deal, up to five years, on lucrative money” to the defender.

The Age reported on Wednesday morning that Murray was “likely to request a trade to North Melbourne” in the coming weeks.

Murray has played 78 games in six seasons since being picked up by Adelaide in the SSP.

While the Crows secured James Borlase on a new three-year deal earlier this month, they’re bracing to lose free agent Jordon Butts, who’s being tipped to join the Western Bulldogs.

HOGAN ‘FRUSTRATION’ REVEALED AS JAMARRA FUTURE ‘ON A KNIFE’S EDGE’

Jesse Hogan and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan could occupy the same Gold Coast forward 50 next year – but only if Hogan rebuffs rival interest and Ugle-Hagan is granted a rookie lifeline, reports Channel 7.

Hogan was delisted by the Giants on Tuesday and has met with Collingwood and Carlton, but the Suns are seen as the leader in the race for his services.

Speaking on Channel 7 on Wednesday night, Mitch Cleary broke down how a twist in Hogan’s Giants exit could lead to him playing for a fourth AFL club.

“It was quite curious because we stood here about eight weeks ago and said that he was in talks on a two-year deal (at the Giants),” the 7News Melbourne reporter said of Hogan. “They’d made a little bit of progression on the gap that you spoke about earlier in the year. Then that deal was pulled.

“I think there’s a bit of frustration from Jesse’s side of things on how quickly things changed.

“He’s open to another move. I’ve got Gold Coast right in there at the moment for a move for Jesse Hogan, but he’s going to meet with a couple more clubs in the next few weeks.”

Cleary said it would likely be a short-term deal for Hogan, who’s kicked 409 goals in 190 games across stints with Melbourne, Fremantle and the Giants.

Meanwhile, Tom Morris said Ugle-Hagan was a chance to remain at Gold Coast for 2027, but would almost certainly have to earn his spot again over the summer.

“The Suns are currently trying to weigh up whether delisting him and making him work through the rookie draft or the SSP would disenfranchise him or would motivate him,” Morris told Channel 7 on Wednesday night.

“It’s very much on a knife’s edge. If I had to pick one way or the other, I think he’s more likely to be there next year, but it’s not certain at the moment.”