The AFL has intervened in the planned player movement between the Port Adelaide Power and the Western Bulldogs, sending a memo to clubs warning that recent rule changes block top-up salary payments when clubs have already engaged in a free agency exchange during the same trade period.
A little-known rule change introduced ahead of the 2025 player movement window has upended discussions surrounding Zak Butters‘ anticipated move to the Western Bulldogs. The League distributed a detailed memorandum to clubs, outlining strict boundaries around how clubs conduct multi-layered player transactions and salary contributions.
The restriction directly targets a proposed arrangement where Port Adelaide tall Todd Marshall would head to the Western Bulldogs in what amounted to a pick-purchasing agreement. Under that discarded framework, Port Adelaide would have covered the vast majority of Marshall’s remaining salary—worth around $800,000 per season through 2029—in exchange for early draft picks from the Bulldogs. That transaction was designed to follow Butters departing Port Adelaide as a restricted or unrestricted free agent, which would have netted the Power a lucrative compensation package, widely anticipated to be pick No. 5.
Strict AFL Rule Bans Salary Top-Ups Following Free Agency Swaps
According to the directive sent by AFL general manager of football performance Greg Swann, league regulations explicitly forbid clubs from pairing a free agency exchange with a subsequent trade that incorporates salary top-up payments as part of the league’s oversight.
“As set out in a memo to clubs dated 26 September 2025, top-up payments will not be approved in relation to a trade between two Clubs who have engaged (or intend to engage) in a free agency exchange for a Restricted or Unrestricted Free Agent in the same player movement period.”
Greg Swann, AFL General Manager of Football Performance, via afl.com.au
The League’s regulations require formal oversight for any transaction involving financial adjustments. Any potential trade involving top-up payments must be communicated to the AFL Head of Football Performance, List Management and Engagement prior to lodgement. Once approved, clubs must submit a completed Memorandum of Understanding within 48 hours.
Industry insiders note that the safeguard regulation was initially prompted by discussions during the previous year involving Brisbane and Essendon. In that scenario, the Lions considered supplementing an offer to free agent Sam Draper to secure a first-round compensation pick for the Bombers, provided Essendon opened negotiations for Jordan Ridley. Although not strictly prohibited at the time, the League moved swiftly to close the loophole before the subsequent player movement window.
The League sent out a detailed memo to clubs on Thursday with its full rundown of rules ahead of the trade period, including live examples of different considerations, including details on free agency, integrity protection, the AFL’s investigative powers and potential sanctions.
Port Adelaide’s Draft Strategy and Alternative Options
While the salary-dump mechanism is no longer viable under the 2025 rule, the restriction does not completely prevent Marshall or other Port Adelaide players from joining the Bulldogs via a standard trade. However, without financial top-ups from Port Adelaide, the Bulldogs would take on the entirety of Marshall’s remaining multi-year salary, significantly altering the economics of the deal. The Power also have a number of players contracted beyond this season—such as Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Willem Drew and Miles Bergman—who may be considered as part of a possible deal with the Bulldogs.
Port Adelaide remains focused on maximizing draft assets to secure next-generation academy prospect Dougie Cochrane with a very early selection—potentially pick No. 1—in the upcoming draft, alongside priority access selections Louis Salopek and Zemes Pilot scheduled for the following year. The club’s leadership, under Josh Carr, views the incoming draft capital as the foundation for a new era modeled on their successful 2018 intake that brought in Connor Rozee, Butters, and Xavier Duursma.
Both clubs have spent recent weeks liaising with League officials to evaluate different scenarios. With the salary-contributing pick-purchase option now off the table following the clarification of the rule, list managers must recalibrate their negotiations ahead of the upcoming trade and free agency period.
Продолжение темы
