Port Adelaide's Cripps criticises Bulldogs over Butters celebrations
Port's list manager says his team helped shape Zak Butters' move, with the Power receiving four first-round picks through a five-club trade.
Port Adelaide list manager Jason Cripps has criticised the Western Bulldogs' celebrations over recruiting Zak Butters, saying the Power played a significant role in determining where the midfielder would go.
Cripps described the Bulldogs as being on a “never-ending victory lap” and said they had not been clear frontrunners throughout the process. He said Port's recruiting team had worked behind the scenes to achieve the outcome it wanted.
Port received four first-round draft picks through a trade involving five clubs, in addition to pick No.5 in free agency compensation. As Butters was a restricted free agent, the Power could have matched an offer and forced a trade, but did not do so.
Butters announced in August that he would return to Victoria after eight years with Port, without initially choosing a destination. Collingwood and Richmond were later eliminated from contention, leaving Geelong and the Bulldogs.
He ultimately chose the Bulldogs, the club he supported as a child. Their recruiting pitch included a commissioned film featuring list boss Michael Regan's 11-year-old son portraying a young Butters.
The Bulldogs also marked his arrival with a prepared video narrated by former captain Bob Murphy.
