New Collingwood recruit Dan Houston wasted no time endearing himself to the Magpie faithful in a recent introductory video, where he may have also thrown a playful jab at his former club, Port Adelaide.
In his interview with Collingwood, Houston emphasised the thrill of donning the black and white, the iconic colours traditionally shared by Port Adelaide's original Magpies team in the SANFL before they joined the AFL as the Power in teal, black, and white.
“Pulling on the black and white stripes for the first time felt unreal,” Houston shared, speaking to Collingwood fans in a video posted by the club.
The comment carries a provocative connotation, given Port Adelaide's historic ties to the black-and-white “prison bar” jumper - a point of dramatic contention between Collingwood and Port Adelaide that has stirred up passions for years.
Houston, a two-time All-Australian defender, reflected on the journey leading up to his move, revealing the trade rollercoaster's emotional toll.
"Over the last, sort of, 24 to 48 hours, it started becoming a fair bit of a rollercoaster and took a little bit of a toll on me," he admitted.
"Getting that phone call saying it was done was an absolute relief, and I'm looking forward to letting my footy do the talking now."
Port Adelaide initially bluffed at the offer presented to send Houston home before agreeing to a three-club trade ahead of deadline day.
Port Adelaide footy boss Chris Davies defended the move, saying the club “got the best deal possible” by securing a mix of young talent and draft picks in a complex three-way trade involving Collingwood and the Gold Coast Suns.
For Houston, the move brings him back to his roots in Melbourne. The 27-year-old played junior football with current Collingwood stars Nick and Josh Daicos, as well as captain Darcy Moore, sparking early friendships that added extra appeal to joining the reigning premiers.
“We were actually very tight as a group,” he said, recounting memories from his time at Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup.
Reflecting on his reasons for returning to Victoria, Houston cited a desire to be closer to family and his partner.
The Collingwood faithful can expect to see Houston's trademark ball use and intercepting prowess from half-back, an area where he's made his mark as one of the league's top defenders.