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All Australian Houston to stay at Port Adelaide

3 minute read

Star defender Dan Houston says he's rejecting offers from rival clubs and is staying at Port Adelaide.

Dual All Australian defender Dan Houston says he's staying at Port Adelaide and rejecting overtures to join rival clubs in Melbourne.

The Victorian-born Houston had been rumoured to be seeking a trade despite being contracted at Port until the end of the 2028 season.

Several Melbourne-based clubs were pitching to sign the 27-year-old, who on Thursday night earnt his second All Australian blazer.

But Houston, whose season has been ended by a five-game suspension which rules him out of Port's finals campaign, says he's not leaving Alberton.

"I am contracted and I absolutely love the footy club, I love being in Adelaide," Houston told Adelaide radio station 5AA on Friday.

"My focus in particular in the next five weeks is helping this team push for finals and get them in the best possible condition and do whatever I need to around the club to help them.

"I am not leaving next year.

"I am contracted, I wouldn't have signed the contract if I wasn't keen on Adelaide and keen on Port Adelaide and I love the place, I love the footy club and the footy club have been good to me."

Houston was banned for five matches for a bump which knocked out Adelaide's Izak Rankine two weeks ago.

After he was suspended, Port went to the AFL appeals board but failed to have the length of his ban reduced.

Houston said the support from the Power "reaffirmed" his commitment to the club.

"They have always got my back and they have always been really supportive of me," he said.

"They did everything that they could to try and help me during that period whether it was appealing or whether it was just even at the club getting around me, the boys have been magnificent and I can't complain at all."

Elsewhere, Melbourne captain Max Gawn insists disgruntled teammate Christian Petracca hasn't told him whether he wants out of the club.

Petracca is yet to formally request a trade, but has reportedly told club officials of his desire to play for another Victorian outfit in 2025.

It comes after the 28-year-old sustained traumatic injuries this season, and despite him having five years left to run on his contract.

"Hasn't told me a thing (about wanting to play elsewhere)," Gawn told the Seven Network at the AFL Awards night.

"He's told me some frustrations he has with the club and I told him some frustrations I have with the club, and that's where we got to.

"At the moment, he has shown some frustrations, which to be fair some of them I agree with, some of them I don't, but that what makes leadership groups fun, having some different opinions.

"There's no real repairing needed if he walks back in day one."

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