Carlton attempt to secure Suns’ pick in bid to land Dan Houston as Kangaroos make huge offer

An All-Australian leaving your club is always a massive blow, but one club’s offer could see Port Adelaide with a draft pick as high as No. 1. JON RALPH has more.

Carlton and North Melbourne are in a battle to land Dan Houston.

Carlton is attempting to secure Gold Coast’s No. 12 draft pick to make a play at Port Adelaide All Australian Dan Houston as the Blues and North Melbourne haggle over the departing star.

Houston on Tuesday told Port Adelaide he wanted to be traded to Melbourne where he will be closer to family and his girlfriend, with the Power happy to accept his request if they can nail the right trade.

North Melbourne has offered up a trade that would include its future first-rounder, which in the past five seasons has either been the first or second selection.

Clubs asking about Houston have been told the Blues and Roos are the strong front-runners despite him examining his options in recent weeks.

Carlton wants to keep its No. 11 draft pick to secure a young talent in a bumper 2024 national draft crop so is attempting to secure another first-round pick.

Dan Houston is requesting a trade to Victoria. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

The Blues would offer up a future first-rounder to Gold Coast for their No. 12 pick, and then would on-trade that selection to the Power for Houston.

Quite clearly the Power would prefer a Roos selection that will surely be in the top five draft selections even if North Melbourne makes some improvement next year.

Gold Coast might accept a future first-rounder for Jack Lukosius, who chose Port Adelaide as his club of choice on Tuesday.

So accepting another future first-rounder for their No. 12 pick is not ideal but the Suns have academy selections including potential No. 1 selection Zeke Uwland next year.

Houston will have to decide on his future club after meeting with a raft of teams that included Carlton, Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs in recent weeks.

The Blues are attempting to clear some cap space and list spots as Matt Kennedy and Lewis Young consider their futures, with Carlton open to them moving on despite contracts for next year.

Houston had an All-Australian year with Port Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

The fact North Melbourne is a contender is a feather in their cap given he must believe they are a chance to make a strong improvement in quick time given he is 27 and might have only four or five more seasons at his peak.

The Suns have picks six, 12, 20 and 26 and the Tigers will ask for more than their No. 6 draft pick for Daniel Rioli, who is contracted.

While the Suns will push back hard they will have to use pick six in some way in a trade for Rioli.

Collingwood is asking for a first-rounder for half back John Noble but will have to be satisfied with pick 20, which will filter back a handful of spots after NGA and father-son bids.