Demons pondering bigger than Texas offer to entice Power to trade Dan Houston, how Port would look to replace him

Port Adelaide star Dan Houston has shown interest in returning home to Victoria – and the clubs are set to line up. But he won’t come cheap. Here’s what the Power could ask for in return.

Dan Houston of the Power

Port Adelaide’s steep demands for Dan Houston could make a trade home to Victoria for the contracted star too difficult this off-season.

Melbourne has strong interest in securing Houston to replace retired premiership star Angus Brayshaw, who had his contract paid out after being medically retired due to concussion.

The Power would want two first-round draft picks for Houston, 27, given how highly they rate the All-Australian gun who placed third in the club’s best-and-fairest last year.

Melbourne is gearing up to make major moves this off-season as the club faces the prospect of a third-straight year without a finals win.

The club is also scouring the player market for a back-up big man to help replace and support Max Gawn after failed moves for Brodie Grundy and Braydon Preuss.

Dan Houston of the Power celebrates after kicking a goal from long range. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

But Houston is a prime target for the Demons whose midfield has lost Brayshaw and Christian Petracca, while Clayton Oliver took time away for personal reasons in pre-season.

However, the Demons will likely baulk at giving up a pair of first-round picks for one player unless they receive something significant in return along with Houston.

Melbourne officials still believe they can strongly contend for another premiership in coming years despite back-to-back straight sets finals exits.

The club won the flag in 2021 but has underachieved since. `

Collingwood, Richmond and Essendon gave up multiple first-rounders to secure Adam Treloar, Tim Taranto and Dylan Shiel respectively.

Premiership player Dayne Beams also commanded multiple early picks as he bounced between the Magpies and Brisbane Lions.

But several of those deals backfired and clubs have recently baulked at parting with multiple first-round picks for players during the trade period.

It means Houston, who is contracted for four more years at Alberton, could have to wait at least another season before returning to Victoria.

Houston, 27, has shown interest in returning home to Victoria and should a deal be struck it would allow Port Adelaide to replenish its draft hand after trading away its first-round pick during last year’s recruiting spree.

Currently, Port Adelaide’s first two picks in the national draft are No. 32 and No. 50.

Port Adelaide has also tabled a long-term contract – which could be up to seven years – to unrestricted free agent Harry Perryman (Greater Western Sydney).

For Port Adelaide, it would be a big win to secure a draft bounty for Houston and then replace him with Perryman as a free agent, who would seamlessly fill his role at halfback.

The Demons are sitting on draft picks No. 9, 38, 42 and 48.

The asking price for Houston is expected to be this year’s first-rounder as well as next year’s first-rounder, which could both be top-10 draft picks.

Could Harry Perryman fill a Dan Houston-shaped hole in Port Adelaide’s defence should the Power let him go? Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

The Demons would be expected to attempt to negotiate a lesser price for Houston, but there is an expectation that more than one first-round draft pick would be required for talks to seriously progress.

The Demons could then trade back into the draft should they entertain offers for star onballer Clayton Oliver.

The Hawks are heavily into St Kilda’s unrestricted free agent Josh Battle.

But Battle has a sizeable offer in front of him from the Saints and confidence is growing at Moorabbin that he will stay put.

Recruiters rate the top 20 of this year’s draft extremely highly. There is no standout No. 1 draft pick with a batch of about five midfielders all considered worthy contenders.

One of those prospects is competitive onballer Levi Ashroft (Sandringham Dragons). Ashcroft’s brother, Will, is an emerging star at Brisbane Lions and they are the sons of three-time premiership star Marcus Ashcroft.

While Levi has not officially nominated the Lions yet, he is certain to do so and head north as a father-son.

Levi Ashcroft’s football IQ is rated highly and he is regarded as an extremely driven ball winner.

Originally published as Demons pondering bigger than Texas offer to entice Power to trade Dan Houston, how Port would look to replace him