Zak Butters has an enormous decision to make.

The Port Adelaide star is wanted by at least four clubs with the Western Bulldogs, Richmond, Collingwood and Geelong all very keen to lure him back to Victoria.

Provided he does leave the Power, he’ll likely get massive money at the Tigers, who are rebuilding, while the Dogs and Pies can offer decent coin, slightly more than the Cats.

Kane Cornes was asked by Tom Morris on SEN’s Locked In which club he would choose if he were Butters.

Morris outlined some key factors: Winning and money.

Cornes said the lure of pulling on the yellow and black at the MCG on huge money would be quite enticing.

“I just think Richmond are an equal chance as the other three clubs in four years’ time - it’s a guess - but I think the factors are there for Richmond to be, if not better than the other three, but certainly equal,” he said.

“Big club, play at the ‘G, huge crowd when things go well, and you’re going to get paid a whole lot more.

“And it’s going to be easier to get a trade deal done, so I’ll chuck that in.

“I would go to Richmond. Richmond fans, they say I never say anything nice about their footy club.”

Does Butters make the struggling Tigers better immediately?

“Yes,” Cornes said firmly.

“Could they win eight games next year with him if they are sound and a couple of these young players come on after a good pre-season.

“I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Would you give him the captaincy immediately?

“Yes, I would,” Cornes replied.

Despite other clubs having a stronger footing in the Butters conversation, the Magpies are trying to muscle their way in.

Just this week, according to AFL Media’s Cal Twomey, they tabled the Power gun an eight-year offer at $1.8 million per year.

Cornes pondered with Morris what Magpies star Nick Daicos would be thinking if Butters was to become the club’s highest paid player.

Cornes: “What is Nick Daicos thinking if what we’re hearing that they’ve made Zak Butters the highest paid player by a mile?”

Morris: “Well, Nick Daicos is the one trying to get him according to Xander McGuire.”

Cornes: “So does he sit down with Collingwood and say, ‘Look, I’m trying to get him but hang on, Zak can’t come in as the highest paid. So if you’re going to bring him in on $1.8m, let’s sit down and have a chat.”

Morris: “Does it really matter to footballers who the highest paid player at the club is?”

Cornes: “Yes, when you’re that good, when you’re the best player in the league.

“Imagine at North Melbourne when they got in Leigh Colbert when Wayne Carey was in his prime and said, ‘Hey Leigh, you’re going to be paid $1.2m and Wayne is on $900,000’.

“That’s the level.

“It’s a long shot they’re going to get Butters by the way, but as long as you’re comfortable with you being paid $700,000 under the team’s highest paid player.”

Butters, 25, is hoping to return from a syndesmosis injury for the final round of the 2026 season before making a massive call on his future.