AFL
1 month ago
Magpies? Blues? Roos? Stay at Port? Making sense of the Dan Houston trade saga
By SEN
There was a possible three-way trade bubbling along on Monday that centred around Port Adelaide star Dan Houston.
What was being floated would have involved Collingwood and Gold Coast and would have seen five AFL players move clubs.
See the potential trade below:
It is understood that the Power are not keen to proceed with the deal which leaves their All-Australian half-back Houston in limbo as he is reportedly keen to return to Victoria.
Houston, contracted until 2027, has also been linked with Carlton, which seems less likely by the minute, and North Melbourne, who have a very good offer on the table.
SEN regular and Channel 9’s Tom Morris has made sense of the situation by explaining where it sits right now and where Houston might end up.
And yes Port fans, remaining at Alberton is a distinct possibility.
Read the explanation from Morris below:
“I’ve seen bluffs before. I don't think this is a bluff from Port Adelaide,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast in regards to keeping Houston to his contract.
“I think they're being legitimate. I think they honestly believe what they want for Dan Houston is rock solid and they're not going to waiver on that.
“I got told about midday yesterday that this was a as complex as any trade deal in the last 20 years, according to someone that's directly involved in the negotiations. It was progressing well, by mid afternoon to the point where Collingwood had, it has done its bit, so they knew what they were getting, they knew that what they were giving up.
“That was it for them and they were just waiting on the Gold Coast in Port Adelaide to come to their arrangement.
“What began as a four-player deal with Dan Houston, Jack Lukosius, Joe Richards and John Noble became a five-player deal with Rory Atkins lumped in, who has one year remaining on a deal with the Gold Coast Suns.
“So three of those players are essentially fringe players. Lukosius isn't paid like one, but he did finish the year in the VFL.
“But Houston, this was all about him and the crux of it was whether Port could be satisfied with what they were getting back for Houston which was Richards, Atkins, Lukosius, Picks 13, 29 and 36.
“That wasn't enough. So they pulled the pin and now we're back to square one and, but they've got North Melbourne sitting there.
“I don't know exactly what the Kangaroos are offering, because they haven't had the chance to get in the room yet because Dan Houston at this point isn't open to North Melbourne.
“North Melbourne could split their top pick which is Pick 2 and they could split it into a couple of later ones and give one of those for Dan Houston or work out a way what West Coast are doing at the moment with Carlton to give Port what they want.
“Houston may have a decision to make if Collingwood falls over and it looks like Carlton is not going to happen. Does he prefer to stay at Port Adelaide or go to North Melbourne?
“They are legitimate, they are not bluffing.
“They will keep Dan Houston and they're happy to do, and Dan Houston is aware of this.
“Yesterday the Houston camp, Collingwood, Gold Coast, they all thought this deal was done, but the Port board stopped it.”
