DAN HOUSTON will play his 100th AFL game in Saturday night’s preliminary final against the Western Bulldogs, becoming the 51st Port Adelaide player to reach the milestone with the club at AFL level.
Houston has gone from a rookie listed forward to a reliable and composed half-back with a knack for taking relieving marks and precision passing by foot.
Here are some numbers to help you impress your friends about the 24-year-old’s career so far:
45 – Houston was taken at pick 45 in the 2016 AFL Rookie Draft. That year (2015) saw Port Adelaide also claim Riley Bonner (pick 37) and Aidyn Johnson (pick 45) in the national draft and Will Snelling (pick 10 Rookie Draft) and Cam Hewett (pick 28 Rookie Draft) in the Rookie Draft. Charlie Dixon and Jimmy Toumpas also landed at Alberton in the corresponding trade period
165 - Houston was the 165th player to represent Port Adelaide at AFL level. His debut came in a 28-point win over Sydney at the SCG in Round 1 2017. The then 19-year-old finished with 12 disposals, two tackles and six marks. He played 17 games in his debut season, winning eleven of them.
65.66 - Houston’s winning percentage in his 99 games.
17 – Houston has booted 17 goals in his 99 games so far. His best individual haul was a two-goal effort against Essendon in Round 20, 2019. He has also recorded 17 behinds in his 99 games.
3 – Houston has polled just three Brownlow Medal votes in his 99 games. Surprisingly all three came in that game against Essendon in Round 20, 2019.
43 – Houston wore the number 43 in his first 60 games before transferring into the number 5 ahead of the 2020 season.
8 – Houston has played eight games against both Adelaide and West Coast. He has not played more than seven games against any other opponent. His record against the Crows is five wins and three losses and against the Eagles is three wins and five losses.
15 – Houston ranks 15th in Port Adelaide’s AFL history for rebound 50s. He has had 329 in his 99 games at an average of 3.32 per game. Kane Cornes leads the stat with 601, while skipper Tom Jonas (2nd – 548) and leader Hamish Hartlett (8th - 434) are the only current players ahead of Houston in the top 15.
51 – Houston has played 51 of his 99 games at Adelaide Oval with a 34-17 win-loss record. Docklands is the only other venue Houston has played at more than 10 times. He has played there eleven times for eight wins.
5 – Houston will be playing in his fifth AFL final on Saturday night. He has played all four of his previous finals at Adelaide Oval with a 2-2 win-loss record.
Dan Houston
DOB: 12/05/97
Games: 99
Goals: 17
Draft: #45, 2016 Rookie Draft
Debut: Round 1, 2017 v Sydney at the SCG
AFL Honours
- Rising Star Nominee (Round 21, 2017)
- AFLPA 22Under22 team (2019)
Club Honours
- Gavin Wanganeen Medal for best club player under 21 (2018)
- Coaches’ Award (2018)
- Third best and fairest (2019)
