“This is real”: Why Dan Houston wants out of Port Adelaide, despite lengthy contract

Dan Houston wants to leave Port Adelaide and play in Victoria in 2025, according to Kane Cornes.

AFL Media initially reported Houston’s interest in potentially leaving the Power, despite having four years to run on his contract.

Cornes, a Port Adelaide great, has done some digging and believes a big factor is Houston’s sharp rise in form in recent years and a feeling that he is outperforming his current pay.

The 27-year-old made the All-Australian team in 2023 and is a fair chance to make it again in 2024 across the half back flank.

“When Cal Twomey reported that Dan Houston was looking at leaving Port Adelaide, I sort of scoffed at it to be honest, like, he’s got four years left on his contract – how could this ever happen?” Cornes told SEN’s Sportsday.

“But the more I hear about it, the more he was spot on. This is real.

“Dan Houston does want to leave Port Adelaide. He’s in unbelievable form and probably in-line for another All-Australian blazer, I would imagine.

“He’s got four years left on his deal. He’s in the prime of his career, potentially a back-to-back All-Australian and he’s 27 and Melbourne is coming hard for him.

“This is the dilemma. Can they make the best out of a situation they wouldn’t have foreseen six months ago.”

“What’s happened is I think Houston signed his contract when he was undervalued in terms of his performance and he has clearly exceeded his pay.

“Melbourne’s come across and said ‘you’re paid this?’ We’ll pay you this long-term and set up your future’, which is pretty enticing.

“Port Adelaide goes ‘you’ve got four years, it’s going to have to be something significant’, but they’ve got no draft picks, Port Adelaide. That’s the other thing, with the deal for Jason Horne-Francis where they gave up two.

“Would Melbourne fans be happy giving up pick seven for Houston? Would they be satisfied with that? Is he the one piece that will get them back into premiership contention? I don’t.”

Josh Gabelich wonders whether the Power would be happy with pick seven for Houston, coupled with potentially landing GWS defender Harry Perryman in free agency.

“Is there a world where Port Adelaide end up in a better position if they get Harry Perryman as a free agent, and I believe they’re well placed, and they get pick seven,” Gabelich said.

“It would be a big loss to lose Houston, but could they be in a better place with pick seven and Perryman?”