Zak Butters says he contemplated going public with his planned move home to Victoria while playing out his final season at Port Adelaide.
The Western Bulldogs unveiled their star recruit at Whitten Oval today following his blockbuster move as a free agent on a nine-year deal worth $2 million a season.
With a year left on his contract at the Power, Butters knew he was leaving Alberton following open conversations with the club at the end of last season.
He discussed going public with his plans with manager Peter Lenton.
"I definitely contemplated and thought about that," the midfielder said.
"But I think the AFL landscape isn't probably quite ready for it."
NRL players can sign deals with rival clubs once they enter the final year of their contract or earlier if given permission.
Deals are often announced during the season.
The AFL system is more restrictive, with listed players coming off contract only able to officially move in the off-season through trade, free agency, drafts and the supplemental selection period.
"The way I play football and the way I train, I feel like I'd be able to show up and front up and do it," Butters said.
"But definitely, I feel like in the future, I couldn't see why it wouldn't be a bad thing."
Butters, a three-time All Australian, was strongly courted by the Bulldogs, Geelong, Collingwood and Richmond throughout the year.
Geelong was viewed as the frontrunner for his signature, but Butters denied he or his management ever indicated to the Cats they were his first preference.
The ball magnet insisted he never completely made up his mind until returning home to his family property at Darley, west of Melbourne, after the Power's season had ended.
"I guess I probably took my time to do that," Butters said.
"It's a pretty long contract and it's probably the rest of my career so I wanted to make sure I get it right.
"I probably leaned towards different clubs at different stages but, ultimately, I got to where I wanted to get to."
Zak Butters (right) pictured with Bulldogs supporter Hunter Zerafa. (Getty Images: Graham Denholm)
The Bulldogs pulled heavily on Butters's heartstrings in their pitch, drawing on his boyhood fandom for the club.
A handwritten letter from 11-year-old Hunter Zerafa, accompanied by a 20-cent coin taped inside, begging Butters to pick the Bulldogs revived childhood memories.
"I thought back to when I was younger and loving Bulldogs players and looking up to them and coming down to open trainings," Butters said.
"I used to have birthday parties at Whitten Oval when I was a kid.
"I've still got the letter at home, and the 20 cents is still in there. I might have to invest it."
AAP