Port Adelaide has confirmed defender Dan Houston has backflipped on his comments and requested a trade back to Victoria.
Houston isn’t the only player set to leave with ruckman Ivan Soldo also intending to return to Victoria.
“Both Houston and Soldo are yet to nominate a club of choice and are committed to staying at Port Adelaide if a suitable trade is not reached,” the club said in a statement.
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Houston’s decision comes just under a month since he told 5AA, “I am not leaving next year”.
The 27-year-old is contracted until the end of the 2028 season and said he had a “fluctuation of emotions” over the last few weeks.
Soldo also wants to leave the club, despite only being traded to Port Adelaide from Richmond last year. Soldo is contracted for another two years.
While players are requesting out of the Power, Gold Coast Suns star Jack Lukosius has requested to join the club.
Lukosius is close with Connor Rozee, who spoke to 9News Adelaide after news of the Suns star’s request broke.
“I tried to keep my distance a little bit and respected his decision, it had nothing to do with our friendship,” he said.
“It was more how he felt like he could fit in at Port Adelaide and make us a better football side to hopefully win a premiership. Obviously it’s really exciting he’s made his decision, he told me last night so I’m pretty wrapped.”
The trades could spark a picks bonanza with the Power likely to ask for two first round draft picks in return for Houston.
Lukosius could go to Port for one of those picks.
AFL.com.au previously revealed Houston has met with Carlton, Collingwood, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs.
Port Adelaide have also told Travis Boak they want him to play another season.
“The whole year it’s been up and down to play on or not to play on, I’ve just tried to enjoy every moment … a few things to think about,” he said.
GWS Giants free agent Isaac Cumming has also met with Port Adelaide and the Crows.
Both clubs have offered him a four-year deal.
Speaking to 9News Adelaide, Cumming said he’ll sit on his decision “for a few days”, revealing there’s no timeline from either club.
GWS defender Harry Perryman is also on the radar of the Power.
