AFL trade news, rumours, whispers 2026: Chad Cornes on Zak Butters future, Port Adelaide Power, West Coast Eagles open to adding Lachie Neale

A former Port Adelaide assistant has made a big prediction around Zak Butters’ future.

Plus a club is open to adding Lachie Neale if he decides to eventually depart Brisbane.

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‘99 PER CENT’: EX-PORT ASSISTANT’S BIG BUTTERS PREDICTION

Former Port Adelaide assistant coach Chad Cornes has predicted Zak Butters is a 99 per cent chance to leave the club at season’s end.

Butters will be the number one target for several Victorian clubs as he prepares to become a restricted free agent at season’s end.

It comes as the Power transitions into a new era under Josh Carr including a big turnover of the coaching staff and several other members of the key footy department.

Cornes, who was among Port’s assistant coaches to depart, expects Butters to eventually make the call to return to Victoria given the family pull.

“99 (per cent likely to leave) in my opinion. But I have not spoken to ‘Buttsy’ for a few months,” Cornes said on SEN radio.

“I’ve heard great things about the new program and what they’re doing at the club, so whether that sways him.

“I just know the connection he has with his family back in Victoria, the property he owns is one of the best I’ve ever seen.

“So it wouldn’t be anything against Port Adelaide, him leaving, it’d be the attraction to get home and spend time with his family.”

EAGLES OPEN TO ADDING NEALE

West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says the club would be open to picking up Lachie Neale at season’s end.

Neale, 32, is due to become a free agent and could consider a move back to Perth after a tumultuous off-season for personal reasons.

And McQualter said the Eagles are open to utilising all the list management mechanisms available to bolster the rebuilding club’s list long term.

“Lachie’s had an incredible career. He’s an incredible player. So I think that we’re always on the lookout for players that will help our team,” McQualter told AFL.com.au.

“We’ll stay open to that. That’s what the industry is and that’s what free agency is, but I probably won’t comment too publicly on it.

“I think consistently we’ll try and get as much talent in the door whichever way we can.”

Neale, a two-time Brownlow medallist and two-time premiership player, has played 159 of his 294 AFL games for Brisbane since crossing from Fremantle at the end of 2018.