Voss: The Butters ripple effect is huge for Dogs

Michael Voss believes that the Zak Butters move to the Western Bulldogs will have a massive ripple effect in 2027.

The Port Adelaide superstar departed Alberton as a free agent and signed with the Bulldogs on a monster deal worth over $18 million.

“You're not just getting potentially a player who is an outstanding player, but someone who can shift the way you play,” Voss said on AFL Trade Radio.

“The benefits you get for somebody like an Ed Richards who plays beside him, a Marcus Bontempelli who now gets to choose (where he plays).

“I mean, if Butters wasn't good enough as it is, you know, the ripple effect is huge.”

The Bulldogs have shown glimpses in recent years of how good they can be when it all comes together, but injuries and inconsistency has them stuck in the middle rungs of the ladder.

“When you think about bridging that gap, they've been hovering in that middle group for a number of years now," Voss added.

“They haven't been able to elevate themselves.”

Despite the plaudits, Voss believes that Butters still has room to improve when it comes to his potency in front of goal.

“If there's one thing you'd love to get a little bit more from Butters next year, is if he becomes a bit more of a goal scoring threat than what he has been in the past," Voss said.

"So maybe they get that little bit of extra flexibility at the Dogs because he was so needed through that midfield to generate the forward half opportunities."

The move also has a huge impact on Port Adelaide who will need its leaders to step up in the absence of Butters.

Captain Connor Rozee missed with a high-grade hamstring injury for most of 2026 and will be a welcome return to the side for Josh Carr whilst Jason Horne-Francis is also shaping up to play a pivotal role in the team.

“So, they get (Rozee) back. He's going to be their unofficial recruit next year, their captain,” Voss said.

“It's going be a big load for someone like Jason Horne-Francis to carry, isn't it?

“It's not just going to be about how (Horne-Francis) is able to turn games and how he's able to influence games, but it's going to be how he influences his teammates and how does he get them on board more.

“A lot of players are going to be looking towards him because he does play a powerful style of football.”

Port Adelaide will head to the draft with Picks 7, 12, 22, 24, 34, 46 and 65 with a likely bid on father-son prospect Dougie Cochrane coming in the first couple of picks.