New Collingwood recruit Dan Houston has revealed that his first preference during the AFL trade period was to play for Carlton under the guidance of coach Michael Voss, before eventually finding his way to Collingwood in a dramatic three-club trade.
Houston, who was one of the most highly sought-after players this trade period, opened up about his desire to reunite with Voss, who he had previously played under at Port Adelaide when Voss was an assistant coach. However, Carlton shifted their focus, leaving the door open for Collingwood to pounce.
“We had some open conversations, I have a good relationship with him [Voss], and I wanted to play for him, and he wanted to have me in the team,” Houston told 3AW.
“It didn't look throughout the whole time like the Blues could get the job done and it sort of chopped and changed a bit. In the end, it was the Pies. I am super happy it was the Pies, and that was one of my preferences throughout the whole year.”
Carlton had initially pursued Houston, but midway through the trade period, they opted to trade up the draft order, acquiring Pick 3 instead of using their draft capital to secure the dual All-Australian defender.
Houston acknowledged the complexities of the trade and shared that despite his initial preference, he was thrilled to be joining Collingwood.
“I have been pretty open-minded the whole time, and once the Pies really came into the picture over the last five or so days, I've been able to wrap my head around what it means for them,” Houston said.
The 27-year-old defender said he was eager to play in front of Collingwood's passionate fanbase, looking forward to donning the famous black-and-white stripes.
“Pulling on the black-and-white stripes for the first time felt unreal,” he remarked in an introductory video to Collingwood fans. His comments carried extra weight given Port Adelaide's historical connection to the black-and-white jumper, which has long been a point of contention between the two clubs.
While Carlton missed out on Houston, they secured pick No.3 in next month's draft, putting them in a strong position to land a future star. In the end, Collingwood capitalised on the Blues' pivot, completing a three-club deal with Port Adelaide and Gold Coast to land Houston.
The trade saw Collingwood hand over their future first-round pick and pick 36, while also landing Gold Coast defender Harry Perryman. Port Adelaide, meanwhile, received a combination of draft picks and players, including former Sun Jack Lukosius, to compensate for Houston's departure.
Reflecting on the rollercoaster trade period, Houston revealed that his decision to seek a move back to Victoria stemmed from a desire to be closer to family and his partner, with all of them based in Melbourne.
He also reminisced about playing junior football with current Collingwood stars Nick and Josh Daicos, as well as captain Darcy Moore, saying it added an extra layer of excitement to his move to the Magpies.
“I am looking forward to letting my footy do the talking now,” Houston said, eager to make his mark at his new club as they prepare for another premiership tilt.