The Port tall emerging as trade tool for Dogs-Butters agreement

Port Adelaide tall Todd Marshall is shaping as a circuit breaker in a potential trade between the Power and the Western Bulldogs for wantaway superstar Zak Butters.

According to SEN's Tom Morris, Marshall has emerged in conversations between the clubs in a deal that could be completed separate to the Butters deal itself, with the Power likely to push for a compensation pick outside of an individual Butters deal.

"We can tell you tonight that contracted Port Adelaide big man Todd Marshall has emerged as a possible circuit breaker in a trade that would satisfy Port and the Western Bulldogs," Morris told 7News.

"Most importantly, it would be a deal that could stand on its own two feet, separate to the compensation pick Port would receive.

"In other words, it would be approved by the AFL separate to the compensation pick, Pick 5, which Port Adelaide would receive if they decided to go down that route."

The trade would sit as follows:

Western Bulldogs receive:
Todd Marshall

Port Adelaide receive:
Pick 12
Future First Round Pick

Via the draft, the Dogs would then select Zak Butters, with Port Adelaide receiving Pick 5 as compensation.

"There would be a lot more to it than this, but this is it at a very basic level," Morris continued.

"Zak Butters for Pick 5 is simple enough. The rest is where it starts to get a little more complex, and I'm sure it will by the trade period.

"The Western Bulldogs would receive Todd Marshall, with discussions around how much they pay and how much Port Adelaide pay of his long-term deal. Of course, he is contracted until the end of 2029.

"Port Adelaide would receive Pick 12 and a future first. What it would do, is it would give Port Pick 5, Pick 12 and a future first, which are the three first rounders that they've spoken of in return for Zak Butters."