The Port star who could do a ‘Tom Barrass’; Suns utility to take pay cut? – Trade Whispers

Could a Port Adelaide star be set to change his trade tune?

Plus, the Suns utility who is prepared to take a pay cut to remain at the club despite being out-of-favour.

Get the latest player movement news and updates in AFL Trade Whispers!

Watch the best coverage of the 2024 AFL finals, with expert analysis and every game until the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

POWER ‘AMENABLE’ TO STAR TRADE

Could Dan Houston be about to do a Tom Barrass?

It’s been well documented that Eagles star Tom Barrass backflipped on a previous statement that he was committed to staying at West Coast, as news surfaces of his desire to be traded to Hawthorn this upcoming trade period.

Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph hasn’t ruled out Port Adelaide gun Dan Houston doing something similar.

“He’s going to do a Tom Barrass isn’t he? He’s going to definitively say that I was staying until they pull the rug out and then he’s going to move,” Ralph began on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“He was adamant on the weekend he was staying at the Power, he said all the right things and I understand that, let’s not hang him for it, but look, his partner is in Melbourne, it’s not that she wants to move back and I think he’s very much aware of the fact he’d like to be there,” he continued.

“I think Port Adelaide is realizing that if they can get a trade done for him for the right price, that they will do that. We shouldn’t lose our minds over it, so they’re amenable to the trade.”

Despite previous reports indicating Houston’s desire to land at Melbourne had fizzed, Ralph can’t help but think there’s still a possibility given Melbourne’s recent positive news surrounding the likes of Christian Petracca and Kysaiah Pickett.

“It’s a holding statement right now. They’ve got the cap space… I know there’s intent there, Melbourne’s got pick 5. I know that he’s officially cooled on that, but I just keep thinking, Petracca’s back, Kozzy Pickett’s not going anywhere, this is not informed mail, but I just keep thinking is there a way he finds himself at Melbourne next year?” Ralph posed.

Another option for Houston should he actually want to return to Victoria would be St Kilda.

“If they do get pick 8 for compensation for the departing Josh Battle, that’s a big if right now, I think that they would give it up for Dan Houston. He’s 27, he’s got six or seven good years left. He’s a dual All-Australian,” Ralph said.

“You might have to throw in a sweetener pick. I just think about what it does for this half back line, Jack Sinclair, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Dan Houston it’s a dynamic a half-back line, it’s turbo charged, it’s volcanic,” he said.

Houston’s inclusion would allow one of that trio to spend more time in the midfield as pressure continues to mount on coach Ross Lyon to bring the Saints back to the promised land.

“He doesn’t have to sell the farm or sacrifice the future if you’re bringing in a 27-year-old who let’s face is, is absolutely elite.

Could Houston be the big fish the Saints are so desperate to land?

STAR SUN BACKFLIP ON THE CARDS?

Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph believes the future of Jack Lukosius isn’t as clear-cut as first envisaged.

Multiple reports this season have linked Lukosius to the Adelaide Crows given he is out-of-favour under Damien Hardwick at the Gold Coast, but Ralph reported on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle that the Suns utility could be prepared to take a pay cut to remain at the Suns.

“Damien Hardwick is, I think throwing the toys out of the cot. We know that premiership statement, ‘we’ve got all the premiership players here, I’m loving these new toys’. Jack was one of his brand spanking new toys and then he didn’t play the right way. He wasn’t as robust enough physically, so a year on, he’s sick of him,” Ralph began.

“I think Adelaide desperately came to try and secure him, they’ve been monitoring him since he was drafted, I just don’t think he really wants to leave the Gold Coast. He’s back-ended on his contract, two more years of about $950,000.”

The Suns have secured a host of young talent in recent years, boasting four Academy jets from last year’s intake and they’ll add another in Zeke Uwland in 2025.

The likes of Mac Andrew and Jed Walter are only going to command more money as they flourish in the years to come.

“I think Gold Coast has a lot of incoming signings that they would like to use that money on. I think he’s prepared to take a pay cut,” Ralph said.

“I don’t know what Gold Coast would think of that, does Dimma have any obligation to say, ‘you’re my player, you didn’t turn out to be the player that I wanted to, I roll my sleeves up and I improve you as a player’, or does he cast him aside?”

The playing future of Lukosius remains up in the air and will be a big watch during this year’s trade period.