After an impressive midfield debut against the Saints in China, is Dan Houston the answer to Port Adelaide’s kicking issues in the middle?
He’s rated as an elite defender. But Dan Houston put on an impressive show in the midfield in Shanghai. And he could be the key to lifting the Power’s lowly kicking efficiency.
Port Adelaide
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Port Adelaide’s first-choice midfield has no problem winning the ball, ranking first for contested possession and clearances in the competition, but it’s the ball-use away from the stoppage which has become an issue.
Collectively, the Power’s midfield, including wingmen, have registered a kicking efficiency of 56.6 per cent this season — the second-lowest in the competition.
Only Gold Coast midfielders have hit less targets by foot in 2019.
Enter Dan Houston.
The 22-year-old, who Champion Data rates as an elite general defender in the AFL, made his midfield debut against the Saints in China.
And it was an impressive start.
Houston attended the second-most centre bounces (22) for the Power — behind only Travis Boak — and recorded career highs in disposals (28), clearances (7) and loose-ball gets (7).
But his 22 effective disposals — also a career high — and disposal efficiency of 78 per cent stood out the most.
As did Houston’s clanger count, given the 186cm right-footer, who is rarely rushed, didn’t register one.
The only other Power player to do the same was forward Kane Farrell but he only had seven touches.
In the absence of co-captain Ollie Wines, Travis Boak has led the engine room, ranking fourth for disposals, sixth for contested possessions and eighth for clearances in the game after 11 rounds.
His midfield sidekick Tom Rockliff isn’t far behind, tallying the eighth-most disposals, seventh-most clearances and 13th-most contested possessions per game.
But as good as they’ve been - Boak in particular - both have recorded a below-average kicking efficiency of 55 per cent or less.
Other midfield regulars Sam Powell-Pepper (50.4 per cent) and Ollie Wines (42.9 per cent) are even less-efficient by foot.
Houston’s kicking efficiency of 76 per cent is seven per cent higher than any Power player classified as a midfielder.
Prior to the midfield move, Houston - who was drafted by the Power in the 2015 rookie draft as a medium-sized forward - was in career-best form as a rebounding defender, averaging 22 disposals, five marks, five rebound 50s and 99 Champion Data ranking points per game in the past month.
“Dan Houston’s been in unbelievably good form for, I’d say, the best part of two seasons,” coach Ken Hinkley said post-match.
“Now he’s stepped up and shown he’s got another string to his bow — and that’s as a midfielder.”
With the return of Ryan Burton and Riley Bonner across half-back, Houston’s midfield move might become more than a one-off, given his attributes address a key deficiency in that part of the ground for the Power.
PORT ADELAIDE’S MIDFIELD BY FOOT
Xavier Duursma (Wing)
69.2% - Above Average
Karl Amon (Wing)
68.7% - Above Average
Willem Drew (Mid)
63.9% - Above Average
Tom Rockliff (Mid)
55.3% - Below Average
Travis Boak (Mid)
54.4% - Below Average
Sam Powell-Pepper (Mid-Fwd)
50.4% - Below Average
Robbie Gray (Mid-Fwd)
49.3% - Below Average
Ollie Wines (Mid)
42.9% - Poor
*Ratings are based off players position
Potential Houston replacement puts Port contract talks on hold
He has been touted as a breakout contender for Port Adelaide and is unsigned beyond this year. But for now this Power youngster’s focus is on playing regularly, not a new deal.
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