On the football field, Dan Houston makes decisions on instinct.
There is a flow to his unhurried game as he sets up teammates in better positions with a rocket-like right boot that capable of causing maximum damage.
Last year, however, Houston found out that making decisions off the field is more tricky as he attempted to orchestrate a move from Port Adelaide to his home state of Victoria with three years remaining on his contract.
He thought broaching the subject with his beloved Power coach Ken Hinkley – the only coach he had at Port Adelaide, who used a rookie pick to add him to their list as a pudgy medium-sized forward from the Oakleigh Chargers in 2016 – would be the toughest part of the move.
“It’s not an easy conversation to have, but it’s one of those ones that has to be done at some stage” Houston said.
At that point, Houston seemed destined to join Melbourne, but the drama between Christian Petracca and the Demons saw that prospect shelved.
Port Adelaide’s Dan Houston (second from left) wore the black and white in South AustraliaCredit: AFL Photos
That added complications to his move as Port Adelaide needed to be satisfied with what his suitor could offer in the trade, while Houston also needed to consider what was best for his football while playing out the season with Port.
Collingwood was alongside Carlton, North Melbourne and St Kilda in expressing interest. Houston met with clubs at that time, and was put in a no-win position during a radio interview, where he said he expected to be at Port Adelaide in 2025.
“It was probably three or four months of footy [that] I had to play with all that stuff going on in the background,” Houston said. “I definitely feel like I am a stronger person because of it. It is not too often you go through those things while you are still trying to play good footy.”
Although Houston has a lifelong friendship with Jack Silvagni and a strong relationship with former Port assistant, now Blues coach Michael Voss, Carlton’s interest in him dropped off as they opted to invest in the draft.
The Kangaroos and the Saints eventually fell behind Collingwood as an option when it became clear there was a chance Port could secure adequate return as Magpies’ Joe Richards decided to go to Port Adelaide and John Noble was set for Gold Coast while Jack Lukosius chose to move from the Suns to Port.
“Once [those moves] came out, Collingwood was a genuine option, and I was like ‘yep, I have made my decision’,” Houston said.
Nick Daicos – who went to the same school as Houston – was also in the defender’s ear as he contemplated his preference.
“Nick has been pumping it up that he did all the heavy lifting, but I am not too sure about that. I will give him a bit of credit and I don’t know the conversations that went on behind the four walls,” Houston said. “It wasn’t putting any pressure on me. He was trying to help me and be a mate at the same time.”
Days before the trade deadline, with a deal resting on Port Adelaide’s agreement, Houston’s manager Nick Gieschen from Connors Sports told him the next time he would hear from him the deal would be done.
The confidence was premature as the next call was bad news; the deal was off.
A frenetic night followed to revive the agreement. Eventually, Houston took a call leaning up against a kitchen wall at his holiday house in Sorrento – he had been traded to the Magpies.
Although he accepts there are many worse experiences people need to deal with in the world, Houston acknowledges the saga sapped him of energy.
Collingwood star Nick Daicos played a role in convincing Dan Houston to join the MagpiesCredit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“I was exhausted. To be honest I was still fairly exhausted in the training before Christmas. As much as I got a physical break, mentally I felt as though I was fully switched on for the 10-12 weeks we get off,” Houston said.
“‘Fly’ (coach Craig) McRae said to me ‘what did I do in my Christmas break?’ and I said ‘mate, I made myself as bored as possible’, so I could not think about anything and have that mental refresher.
“I came back to the club after Christmas [and] I feel like a completely new person just being able to get away from that sort of speculation.”
The speculation was compounded by the fact Houston couldn’t play in the finals after being suspended for five weeks for a bump on Adelaide’s Izak Rankine that knocked the unsuspecting Crow out cold in the middle of a Showdown match.
“Initially, I was fairly rattled,” Houston admits.
“You don’t ever go out on a playing field to do that to an opposition player, so I was a bit rattled mentally.
“You think of all those things – that you let down your teammates and you let down your team, and it may be your last game. But I had the support network to help me through that.”
That is now all behind the dual All-Australian who served the final week of his suspension in opening round, meaning his debut in Collingwood colours will come against his former club on Saturday night.
His addition will be welcome after the Pies were drubbed by the Giants’ last weekend, but he has faith the Collingwood list.
And it will mean he can return to his comfort zone; the football field, where the decisions he has to make are less tiring than the life decisions that defined his year in 2024.
“[I’m] feeling good physically, and in the mind,” Houston said. “I know the game plan and I know how the boys move, so I’m feeling good.”
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