Power reject seven-pick, five-player trade that would have ended star’s ‘sleepless nights’

Despite fresh hope on Monday that Dan Houston will become a Collingwood player after months of speculation, there has been yet another twist in the 2024 trade period tale.

As first reported by Nine’s Tom Morris and added to by AFL Media’s Callum Twomey, the dual All-Australian was at one stage, highly likely to be one of five players on the move between Port Adelaide, Collingwood and Gold Coast in a mega three-club trade.

However, as later revealed by Twomey on Monday night, Port Adelaide have since changed their stance on the deal – despite the proposal that would see them net three players, a first-round pick and two second-round picks in this year’s draft.

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“Port Adelaide won’t be proceeding with this deal. Discussions will be paused now – leaving Houston back in limbo and a whole lot more to do with two days to go. Expecting clubs will get back to work on Tuesday to see if any other variations work,” Twomey wrote on X.

Houston, who is currently contracted to the Power until the end of 2027, formally requested a trade back to his home state of Victoria late last month – with a media storm erupting after denying the prospect of such a move during the season.

But despite yet another roadblock amid negotiations, the 27-year-old should still be in black and white colours next season.

Below reads the full details of the proposed trade that Port Adelaide has since rejected.

PROPOSED DEAL THAT WOULD SEE HOUSTON GO TO COLLINGWOOD

PORT ADELAIDE RECEIVE: Jack Lukosius, Joe Richards, Rory Atkins, Pick 13, 29 and 36

COLLINGWOOD RECEIVE: Dan Houston, Pick 58

GOLD COAST RECEIVE: John Noble, Pick 39, future first-round pick (tied to Port Adelaide), future first-round pick (tied to Collingwood)

Speaking on the Fox Footy Podcast before news of Port’s new stance, 322-game AFL great Nick Dal Santo spoke highly of the Magpies’ reported acquisition of Houston for 2025 and beyond.

“This (deal) all revolves around Houston; that’s clearly the big name within this, but it also has a flow-on effect – this one, I love,” Dal Santo began by saying.

“The modern game, a lot of it is based around a sound team defence … the top four had a stable defence.

“What’s the only thing that can trump defence? Ball use, and elite use by foot – and Dan Houston fits that bill.

“They go out of their way at Port in previous years to give him the ball; whether he’s in a good position, or a bad position. They say: ‘we trust you to distribute the footy as good as anyone.’”

12 months after their premiership, the Pies have been brought back down to earth – missing finals all together thanks to a lack of form and a plethora of injuries during the middle of the year.

But make no mistake – their defensive profile in 2025 will be as good as anyone’s with the hopeful addition of Houston, who has made the All-Australian side two years running now.

“You’ve got Darcy Moore, Isaac Quaynor … you’ve got Brayden Maynard; the hard edge – you’ve got (Steele) Sidebottom that’s gone back there for a different dynamic – I like that, I love that,” Dal Santo highlighted.

Houston’s whereabouts for next season has been a talking point for months in the media, with the defender subject to countless radio interviews and local media appearances where his intentions were scrutinised.

Dal Santo shed light on the potential discussions behind closed doors that Houston would have had with his manager Nick Gieschen from Connors Sports Management, before noting that regardless of the outcome from this trade period, his situation was far from the worst-case scenario.

“I’d like to think there (was) a conversation at the very start of this, whenever this was bubbling away. You say to your manager: ‘I only want to hear from you’,” Dal Santo stated.

“He’ll be having sleepless nights … absolutely there’s uncertainty, which causes anxiousness – it has a flow-on effect to other parts of your life.

“The piece of comfort for Dan Houston is he has the contract at Port – worst case scenario, you know you’re going back to a club.”

“Best case scenario, you go somewhere else where you continue to play footy – and at the end of the day, that’s what he’s here to do, play really good football.

Fox Footy Podcast panellist David Zita added: “Nick Gieschan is a very cool, calm and collected customer – I think he’ll be keeping Dan Houston pretty calm and saying ‘let me handle it mate’.”

Houston has played 168 games in eight seasons for Port Adelaide, after being taken by the Power in the 2016 AFL rookie draft.