DAN HOUSTON will play his 150^th AFL game in Friday night’s Gather Round clash with Essendon, becoming the 27^th Port Adelaide player to reach the milestone with the club at AFL level.

Houston has gone from a rookie-listed forward to All-Australian half-back with a knack for taking relieving marks, booting long goals and composure under pressure.

Here are some numbers to help you impress your friends about the 26-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.

165 - Houston was the 165^th 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.

63.09 - Houston’s winning percentage in his 149 games. 

36 – Houston has booted 36 goals in his 149 games so far. His best individual haul has been two goals in a game, which he has done three times –against Essendon in Round 20, 2019, Brisbane in Round 1, 2022 and most recently against Hawthorn in Round 12, 2023.

15 – Houston has polled 15 Brownlow Medal votes in his 149 games. After polling just eight in his first 100 games, he has since polled another seven in the 49 games since including two best on ground showings last season.

43 – Houston wore the number 43 in his first 60 games before transferring into the number 5 ahead of the 2020 season.

12 – Houston has played 12 games against both Adelaide and Richmond – more than he has faced any other side - with six wins and six losses against each of those teams.

21 – Houston needs 21 disposals to surpass Josh Francou’s tally of 3020 disposals and move into the club’s top 15 disposal getters in its AFL history. Francou achieved his tally in 156 games.

514 – Houston has had more rebound 50s than any current Port Adelaide player with a total of 514 rebound 50s in his time at the club. That number ranks him fourth overall in Port Adelaide’s AFL history behind Tom Jonas (642), Kane Cornes (601) and Chad Cornes (545).

80 – Houston has played 80 of his 149 games at Adelaide Oval, where he will play his 150^th on Friday night. He can boast a 52-28 win-loss record at the venue. The MCG (14 games, eight wins, six losses) and Docklands (15 games, 11 wins, four losses) are the only other venues Houston has played at more than 10 times.

3 – Houston has finished third in Port Adelaide’s best and fairest voting on three occasions (2019, 2022 and 2023).

9 – Houston has faced this week’s opponent Essendon on nine occasions for a seven win, two loss record. He has kicked five goals against the Bombers – the equal most of any side along with Richmond – with the most memorable coming after the siren to win the game in Round 16, 2023.

DOB: 12/05/97
Games: 149
Goals: 36
Draft: #45, 2016 Rookie Draft
Debut: Round 1, 2017 v Sydney at the SCG

AFL Honours

- All-Australian (2023)
- AFLPA 22under22 team (2019)
- Rising Star nominee (Round 21, 2017)
- Goal of the Year nominee (2023)

Club Honours

- Leadership group (2024-present)
- Bruce Weber Memorial Trophy (Third Best & Fairest) (2019, 2022, 2023)
- Gavin Wanganeen Medal (2018)
- Coaches’ Award (2018)