By Marc McGowan
Credit:
Dan Houston’s potential return home to Victoria – with Melbourne an interested suitor – faces a significant roadblock, with the All-Australian defender contracted for four more seasons.
Two list management sources confirmed to this masthead on the condition of anonymity that Houston was contracted to Port Adelaide until the end of 2028, not 2027, as was reported elsewhere.
Dan Houston (left) celebrates a Port win with Zak Butters this season.Credit: AFL Photos
There is an increasing belief that the 27-year-old will request a trade once the Power’s campaign ends, but he is yet to relay that to the club and is focused on completing the season, according to two sources.
The rumblings about Houston’s future, and in particular his links to the Demons, started early last month. Industry sources who wanted to remain anonymous when discussing Houston’s future confirmed Melbourne were monitoring the situation.
Rivals believe Port Adelaide will consider trading Houston, who made his name playing for Oakleigh Chargers in the then-TAC Cup, as they look for ways to bolster their skinny draft hand.
The Power sent their 2024 first-round selection to Fremantle on the opening day of last year’s trade period for a package of picks that helped them bring in Esava Ratugolea and Ivan Soldo.
Port are also the most ardent suitors for Greater Western Sydney’s unrestricted free agent Harry Perryman, ahead of Hawthorn and Adelaide, if he chooses to depart the Giants.
The Demons would need to part with a first-round selection at minimum for Houston, who is putting together another strong season, averaging 23.2 disposals at better than 80 per cent kicking efficiency.
He has averaged at least 23 touches in each of the past three years, and was named at half-back in the 2023 All-Australian team.
Houston would be a ready-made addition for a Melbourne squad desperately trying to extend their premiership window despite a disappointing few seasons since their drought-busting 2021 flag triumph.
Clubs are also waiting until the AFL Commission meets on August 1 to determine how far they can trade picks into the future before developing potential packages.
Waiting game for first-round Pie
Collingwood forward Reef McInnes’ future beyond this season is uncertain, with negotiations yet to begin between the Magpies and his management on a new deal amid a list squeeze.
McInnes has kicked 13 goals in nine matches in his fourth year on the list, after being the No.23 pick in the 2020 draft, when the Magpies matched the Giants’ bid on their Next Generation Academy prospect. He returned to the senior side a fortnight ago after spending a month in the VFL.
Reef McInnes celebrates a goal for the Magpies this year.Credit: AFL Photos
The athletic 21-year-old was one of three first-round picks for Collingwood that year, alongside Ollie Henry – who successfully sought a trade to Geelong two years ago – and Fin Macrae.
McInnes has twice kicked three goals in a game this season but has also been regularly used as the Pies’ substitute, which has often presented him with limited time to make an impact up forward.
He joins the likes of veterans Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Jeremy Howe and Will Hoskin-Elliott without a deal for 2025, while fellow talls Charlie Dean, Nathan Kreuger, Oscar Steene and Aiden Begg are also out of contract at season’s end.
Hawk nearing contract trigger
Hawthorn’s long-range free agency pursuit of St Kilda defender Josh Battle does not mean the end of the road for veteran backman Sam Frost.
Veteran Sam Frost has had an impressive season for the Hawks.Credit: Getty Images
Frost, who turns 31 next month, is enjoying a sneaky good season for Sam Mitchell’s in-form Hawks, and has been particularly important in the absence of ACL victim James Blanck.
The ex-Demon and Giant’s latest two-year deal expires at season’s end, but a well-placed source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it was contract-related, confirmed Frost was poised to reach a trigger that would guarantee his spot at Waverley Park for 2025.
That scenario would give Frost the chance to play 200 career matches after he was originally the top pick in the rookie draft 13 years ago. He has played 18 games this year for a total of 177.
Much has been made during Frost’s AFL career of his penchant for blunders, which sometimes unfairly overshadow his contributions, but he has performed more of a lockdown role in 2024.
Battle, an unrestricted free agent who can walk to the club of his choice, has put contract negotiations on hold until season’s end.
The star Saint, who is averaging career-highs of 17.2 disposals and 7.4 marks this season, to go with 2.5 intercept marks, is Hawthorn’s latest key defensive target after they narrowly missed out on Ben McKay and Esava Ratugolea last year.
It is considered a two-horse race at this stage: re-signing at St Kilda or leaving to bolster the Hawks’ back line.
And then there were three...
Gun Sun Ben Ainsworth’s decision to re-sign for four years leaves only three restricted free agents still up for grabs.
Western Bulldogs star Tim English – last year’s All-Australian ruckman – in-demand Kangaroo Cam Zurhaar and Geelong great Patrick Dangerfield are that trio.
There is little doubt about where Dangerfield will be playing in 2025, but there remains intrigue about English and Zurhaar.
There were nine unsigned restricted free agents when the AFL released the official list in March, but Brisbane pair Jarrod Berry (2029) and Hugh McCluggage (2031), Essendon’s No.1 pick Andy McGrath (2030), Hawk Blake Hardwick (2029) and Sydney’s Will Hayward (2029) have all since re-committed.
All five of those players scored at least a five-year deal, in an indication of how much power players have gained in the free agency era.
With Peter Ryan
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