Western Bulldogs Player Acquisition & Strategy Manager Michael Regan has revealed some of the nervous moments the Club experienced in its lengthy pursuit of Zak Butters.
 
Speaking on Continental Tyres AFL Trade Radio, Regan also detailed how the "calculated risk" of offering the superstar midfielder a lucrative long-term deal fits into the Club's list strategy as they position themselves as a premiership contender.

While the Bulldogs ultimately won the race for the most sought after free agent signature in AFL history, Regan admitted there were moments when the Club feared it had fallen behind rival suitors.
 
"It genuinely did wax and wane. We probably started off confident and potentially too confident at times," Regan said.
 
"There'd been a little bit of a narrative out there that it was always going to happen. That's certainly not the case.
 
"We caught wind that we'd probably fallen down the pecking order a little bit, and had to get to work on what those reasons were, and how we could work to reassure everyone involved that this was still the right place for Zak."

Regan credited a whole-of-club effort for turning the situation around, saying it showcased the strength and alignment of the Bulldogs as an organisation.
 
"Through the hard work of a number of people around the football club, from (Club President) Kylie Watson-Wheeler down, we were able to get ourselves back in front of Zak and have a chat and … turn things around.
 
"It's a representation of how this footy club works, and why it's a great place to be.
 
"We've had players bringing ideas to the table, not just around Zak, but around other acquisitions that we could potentially bring in.
 
"This is a united football club, and one that's all pushing towards success.
 
"I had a chat to Zak on Friday as things were getting processed and I asked him what his plans are for tonight if this all goes through and he said I'll watch the (AFLW) game, so he's bought into everything pretty quickly."

One of the hinge moments of the pursuit came when Regan travelled to meet Butters at his family farm for an honest conversation away from the spotlight.
 
"We'd done all the bells and whistles," Regan said. "But in the end with people, honesty is the best policy, and we just sat down and had a really frank, open and honest chat around where the Club was at, what it meant to us as a football club and to the supporter base and what it would mean to everyone involved if Zak was to choose us.
 
"We were fully up front around where we stand now, and what we're wanting to do into the future."
 
The length and size of Butters' nine-year contract has drawn scrutiny, but Regan insisted that all major list decisions carry risk and the Club's reasoning was backed by extensive analysis and planning.
 
"Everything's a risk in this game," he said. "It's a risk going to the draft, it's a risk bringing in free agents, it's a risk trying to trade for big-name players. There's no strategy that doesn't carry some risk.
 
"Is this a risk? Yes. Is this a calculated risk? Absolutely."

 
Regan highlighted the work of analyst Sam McIntosh, who led a significant data-driven review of the Bulldogs' list profile and competitive position.
 
The outcome of that was a clear focus on acquiring players aged between 22 and 27 years old to complement a talented young core already featuring players such as Sam Darcy, Ryley Sanders and Cooper Hynes.
 
"Before you can start looking at premiership lists, you've got to work out where you're at first," Regan said.
 
"We were the fifth-youngest selected 23 throughout this year. You've got this platform to then go, where are we at? We're competing, we're contending. We need to bridge a gap."

Beyond Butters, the Bulldogs were active throughout the Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period, adding talent and depth with key defender Jordon Butts, midfielder Finn Maginness and ruck Hudson O'Keeffe.
 
Regan said every move was connected to a long-term strategy focused on sustained success rather than a single season, but acknowledged that expectations would be high from next season onwards.
 
"We're in it to win it every year at the moment," he said. 
"We believe we've got most of the building blocks for that now, both in terms of players and in terms of what the culture and the group is like and the connection that exists inside our Club.
 
"It is an exciting time. You don't want to put labels on what you're trying to achieve but we're aiming to win, and we're aiming to win every year."

Regan also dismissed speculation that star ruck Tim English could have been traded during the season. "Not even for a second," he said when asked whether trading English had been considered.
 
He also insisted Rory Lobb has a key role to play in the Club's future plans: "He's contracted for us and an important piece for us because he's able to play three pretty integral roles on the ground at a very good level."