Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley expects Dan Houston to stay and not seek a trade

The jungle drums are beating – and some believe Port Adelaide star Dan Houston is as good as gone. But coach Ken Hinkley wasn’t quite so sure on Friday.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says he still expects Dan Houston to be at the club next year amid growing speculation the All-Australian defender will seek a trade back to Victoria.

Houston has been linked with a move to Melbourne despite being contracted to the Power until the end of 2027.

Hinkley and Houston have been dismissive of the reports, but rival clubs and managers anticipated the Port leadership group member would request a trade at season’s end.

Power great Kane Cornes added to the speculation on SEN, saying “this is real – Dan Houston does want to leave Port Adelaide”.

Port Adelaide teammates celebrate Dan Houston‘s goal against the Swans. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Unsurprisingly, Hinkley stood by his previous comments.

Asked if he still expected Houston to be at the club next year, Hinkley said on Friday: “Yeah, he’s contracted and part of the leadership group”.

Houston and the Power face the Demons at the MCG on Saturday night in another clash crucial to both clubs’ finals prospects.

Port has won five of its past six games to sit in third spot on the ladder, while 12th-ranked Melbourne is on a three-match losing streak.

Hinkley said the external talk around Houston was not becoming a distraction.

“We’ve all handled it, Dan’s handled it, we’ve been open, we’ve been honest with it,” he said.

“So we just move on, play on.

“Dan’s in pretty good form. He looks pretty happy to me.”

Todd Marshall returns to the Power side. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos

The Power has made one change for Saturday night’s game, recalling Todd Marshall from injury while losing in-form fellow forward Mitch Georgiades to a quad strain.

Georgiades sustained the injury at training on Wednesday.

“It’s nothing too serious, but enough to keep him out for this week and possibly next,” Hinkley said.

“He’s been in really good form, so it’s a big blow, but we’re lucky we’ve got Todd available to come back into the side.

“Todd’s form has been a little up and down for him and his performances have not been at the level he’d probably have liked, but he plays a valuable role for us.”

Hinkley forecasted that defender turned forward Esava Ratugolea would remain in attack after playing well over the past fortnight.

“You don’t tamper with it (the line-up) too much if it’s going OK,” he said.

Originally published as Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley expects Dan Houston to stay and not seek a trade