The Agenda Setters on Channel 7 Craig Hutchison on Richmond’s potential enticing offer for Zak Butters – on Seven and 7plus.
Hutchison: “Well he’s leaving, that’s clear, it’s just a matter of who. I was interested to see the revelations that Richmond has emerged. If they are serious Richmond, they will be unbelievably hard to beat (for Zak Butters signature). Here’s a very interesting set of circumstances, Richmond, that no one’s ever had in history probably to this degree given the volume of draft picks they bought in. This is how they make a knockout punch. Now, let’s assume the market’s $1.6 (million) to be respectful. Now, I know some are saying it’s $2 million, I think it’s about $1.6 million, the market. Seven years feels about right. 26 to 33 years, given the way he plays, it’s probably reckless to offer anything longer than that. The Tigers have got a five-year strategy that involves a flag, that’s a period of time they think they’ll come good in. And they’ve got all this talent, they’ve got all these, first round draft picks that aren’t being paid much. Captain day one for me I think. He’s the right leader. Don’t wait, similar to Chris Judd at Carlton in you come and lead the team, and I’m sure Nank (Toby Nankervis) can hand it over. Elite draft picks they got now are all on the smaller pay scale. Now, this whole game here is get Zak and pay as much money as you can physically cope with and handle in the first two years, to get that money out of the way before the talent matures
Riewoldt: “Four and a half (million) in year one!”
Hutchison: “This is the way I would construct it. $4.5 million in year one, which is double any player has ever received in a year. $2.3 million in year two and $2 million in year three. You’ve got to move that money out and early in the $18 million salary cap, which will grow in that time, as well. Then you’re left with your window. So, years four and five is where their strategy matures. You would think they’re going to have some, not all, of Taj Hotton in here, and Josh Smillie, they’re not all going to be million-dollar players, but some of them are, some of them are going to be million-dollar players by then. And you’ve got to be able to get the money out, so that’s still the $1.6 million average, but it clears the money out at a time which suits Zak. It’d be very hard to say no to if you’re looking at that money, and your pitch is, you’re going to captain that next premiership, and here’s the pieces we put around you. You tell me he wouldn’t look at that seriously?”
Riewoldt: “Absolutely you’d look at it seriously. You’d have to buy into the fact that Richmond are on the right track. The other attractive part of that, from a Richmond point of view, is you de-risk yourself later in his career, given the combative way that he plays. You’re not on the hook for a massive number.”
Wilson: “It takes a special sort of player to be captained on day one.”
Cornes: “Oh, no, he can do that. But if I were for Richmond, that’s a great case, Richmond, beautiful, no worries, I’d do that. But you’ve got to say to Butters you’re going to a club on $1.6 million that’s won five games in the last two years, you could get more to go to a contender. So, it works for Richmond, great case for Richmond, beautiful, no worries they’d do that deal, but you’ve got to sell to Butters you’re not going to win a game for the next 3-4 years.”
Hutchison: “I think they’re going to come on much better than that.”
The Agenda Setters – 7.30pm every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night on 7mate and 7plus Sport.
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The Agenda Setters on Channel 7 Craig Hutchison on Richmond’s potential enticing offer for Zak Butters
