Port Adelaide’s footy boss says the club got the “best deal” possible for Dan Houston in sending the dual All-Australian to Collingwood as part of a mega three-team trade with Gold Coast that netted the Power Pick 13.
The Power on Tuesday were at the centre of the eight-pick, five-player deal that saw Houston finally got his wish of moving to the Pies.
Port also acquired Jack Lukosius, Joe Richards, Rory Atkins and picks 13, 29 and 36.
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The deal had threatened to fall over earlier in the week due to Port rebuffing it before the exact same trade plus the Suns’ Pick 50 sweetener got it over the line.
Some have criticised the Power for not getting enough back for Houston, who was under contract for three more seasons, amid initial reports they were seeking a return of two first-round picks.
However Port general manager of football Chris Davies was confident the club made the best out of the situation.
“What we got through the trade period was an understanding that the deal done yesterday was probably going to be the best deal we possibly could do through the trade period for Dan,” Davies said on AFL Trade Radio on Wednesday morning.
“While also importantly for us bringing in two players from other clubs we think are certainly going to help an area of the ground we need it.”
Davies confirmed it wasn’t Houston’s preference to go to fellow suitor North Melbourne despite the 27-year old seeking a move back to Victoria amid reports the Kangaroos were willing to offer a future first-round pick, which on recent history has been a top-two selection.
He said North’s offer wasn’t necessarily “going to be as compelling” as the one Port received and suggested Pick 13 mightn’t have been on the table for much longer than it was.
“It wasn’t Dan’s preference to go to North Melbourne as a starting point,” Davies continued.
“It’s a balance and I’m certainly not sitting here suggesting the deal we’ve done would’ve been there today if we didn’t do it yesterday. I think Pick 13 was probably going to end up somewhere else.
“We had to pull the trigger at the time we did.”
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Davies clarified there “wasn’t pressure” from Houston’s management group, Connor Sports, to get the star halfback to Collingwood.
But Houston’s situation aside, the Power footy boss doesn’t think contracted players should have the power to nominate what teams they want to go to.
“I think once you’ve got a player in contract you should be able to send them to the club that is the easiest to deal with on the other end of the line,” he said.
“That’s not me having any sort of sour groups for this deal because at the end of the day we were happy to do it.
“But I think principally that’s something the players association and AFL have to look at into the future.”
Davies said the main reason the club didn’t hold Houston to his contract in hope of holding out for a better deal next year was that Port’s recruiting team “value this draft immensely” and “want to be at the top end of the draft” with a long-term outlook.
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That’s despite the Power’s first selection — No. 13 — set to shuffle back a few spots following likely academy and father-son bids.
Davies defended the view that Port had taken a step back, saying Lukosius and Richards would be valuable additions to the forward line.
“The balance there is whether you think (we’ve worse off) with Dan going out and Lukosius and Richards coming in plus whichever plays we choose at Pick 13 for the time being and the other selections inside 30,” he added.
“The idea that we have access to high quality picks hasn’t been the case for the last seven or eight years because we’ve been finishing high enough on the ladder.
“I think our list manager Jason Cripps has a pretty tough job because we’re in this cycle of trying really hard to be as good as we possibly can and also needing to retool our squad on the run.
“We acknowledge Dan is a great player and I’ll miss him personally … but we feel we’ve got adequate depth in our back half to be able to cover it and we need help in the front half.
“This deal has allowed us to at least be better there.”
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Meanwhile Ivan Soldo is set to stay at Port after St Kilda withdrew interest in the ruckman due to concerns around the 28-year old’s knee.
Soldo, who’s contracted until 2026, hasn’t settled into life at South Australia a season after crossing from Richmond.
“I don’t really know what happened from St Kilda’s perspective where he comes in to an exit interview and asks to be traded but hasn’t
done whatever the medical is required to get the other club on the hook,” Davies added.
“I’m sure if (Soldo) had his time again he might’ve just kept his powder dry before suggesting he wanted out.
“Unless something happens today he comes back to our club and fights for a ruck spot.
“I think he’s been treated unfairly, to be honest. I saw some suggestion he had pulled the pin on coming to our best and fairest because he was asking to be traded.
“That wasn’t true, he was actually involved in a wedding party on the same night, so that’s a non-event.
“I think Ivan hasn’t settled in Adelaide the way he and maybe we haven’t liked and we have a part to play in that as well.
“So we’ve got to try and help him into the future and settle into the city a little bit more. And if he can’t do that, we’ll probably be in this situation again next year.”
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