The Silly Season

[TheGreatZacsby]

Dan Houston is reported wanting to come to us. 27 year old half back flanker. I don’t know if we should pursue him? We are even linked to Melb Adam Tomlinson. This isn’t the age demographic we are after!

[SinCitySainter]

Dan Houston is a fine player however Port would want too much for him.
He is contracted to 2027 so we would need to give at least a first round pick and we cannot afford to pay that.

[seano1]

I like what mooney is saying about the tigers , trade everyone of value out to get as many draft pucks for the next couple of years, think their might be something to this …except a lot of ours are too old now but maybe King could bring in 2 high picks , and if anyone else wants out find out now

[skeptic]

Dan Houston is a fine player however Port would want too much for him.
He is contracted to 2027 so we would need to give at least a first round pick and we cannot afford to pay that.

These scenarios are always really interesting to me.

We don’t need him that badly which means we have no obligation to pay a high price.

For whatever reason, it always seems like when a contracted player wants to leave us, we have to run the risk of doing a deal or risk losing him for nothing later. Strange that he signed so long term and wants to go.

I’d say make them an offer and say it’s the best they’re going to get from us otherwise lose him later when he has SFA value and if somebody else swoops in then so be it

There’s no freakin way a 27yo halfback flanker gets you a first round DP

[St Dave]

Dan Houston is a fine player however Port would want too much for him.
He is contracted to 2027 so we would need to give at least a first round pick and we cannot afford to pay that.

These scenarios are always really interesting to me.

We don’t need him that badly which means we have no obligation to pay a high price.

For whatever reason, it always seems like when a contracted player wants to leave us, we have to run the risk of doing a deal or risk losing him for nothing later. Strange that he signed so long term and wants to go.

I’d say make them an offer and say it’s the best they’re going to get from us otherwise lose him later when he has SFA value and if somebody else swoops in then so be it

There’s no freakin way a 27yo halfback flanker gets you a first round DP

To be fair he was AA last year and in the squad this year.

I agree we don't need to be parting with a first round pick for him though. Another team might though.

[D.B.Cooper]

With a new club coming into the competition surely we have learnt every first round pick must be taken to the draft in these (relatively) uncompromised drafts.

Unless you have JHF, Harley Reid or a 20YO gun, you don't trade a first rounder.

[The_Dud]

With a new club coming into the competition surely we have learnt every first round pick must be taken to the draft in these (relatively) uncompromised drafts.

Unless you have JHF, Harley Reid or a 20YO gun, you don't trade a first rounder.

And I would also say don't bring in any free agents that will dilute our Battle compensation.

[SinCitySainter]

Dan Houston is a fine player however Port would want too much for him.
He is contracted to 2027 so we would need to give at least a first round pick and we cannot afford to pay that.

These scenarios are always really interesting to me.

We don’t need him that badly which means we have no obligation to pay a high price.

For whatever reason, it always seems like when a contracted player wants to leave us, we have to run the risk of doing a deal or risk losing him for nothing later. Strange that he signed so long term and wants to go.

I’d say make them an offer and say it’s the best they’re going to get from us otherwise lose him later when he has SFA value and if somebody else swoops in then so be it

There’s no freakin way a 27yo halfback flanker gets you a first round DP

To be fair he was AA last year and in the squad this year.

I agree we don't need to be parting with a first round pick for him though. Another team might though.

I agree completely on this that we don't need to part with a first-round pick for him.
However, he has a contract until 2027 so Port have absolutely no requirement to trade him for less than that as he can't walk away for three more years.
If we really want him we will have to pay a high price and more than I believe we should be willing to pay.

[Brunswicksainter]

Macrae now also linked on SEN. Would be a shocking acquisition IMO. Completely overrated and shocking kick of the footy. Big downgrade on crouch.

Houston will surely only happen if we get first round compo for battle.

Soldo also linked to saints by Sam Edmund today.

[SinCitySainter]

Soldo straight replacement for Campbell without the good clubman vibe.

[Scollop]

Soldo straight replacement for Campbell without the good clubman vibe.

Plus Soldo is in rehab more times than he is on the track

[skeptic]

To be honest I’m inclined to say no to an experienced Rick back up. If we needed this then just keep Campbell.

Currently we have Hayes, Heath and Keeler. Time or play them

[Big Max]

Dan Houston is a sensational footballer, exactly the type Ross Lyon absolutely loves.

He runs off the back line and is a superb decision maker, and possibly the best long penetrating kick in the AFL. He even kicks goals from 60 meters.

Houston is a significantly better footballer than Josh Battle, although a different type. Battle is a tall back, strong bodied, intercept defender.

Houston provides the run and carry, with amazing disposal, a bit like Sinclair, but taller and with even more penetrating disposal.

Houston would not be a direct replacement for Josh Battle, however if we could get a direct swap by using Battle's 1st round draft pick, it would be a big win for the Saints.

If we gained Houston but lost Battle, we'd need to find a strong defender. Shoemakers has the right body size, but I'm not sure he has Battle's defensive skills. Likewise Caminitti, he has the size but not so sure about his defensive skills.

If we do lose Josh Battle, which I hope we don't, we may have to choose between a rookie midfielder or Houston. A very tough choice, and in either case we still need to replace Battle.

[Saint 58]

Macrae now also linked on SEN. Would be a shocking acquisition IMO. Completely overrated and shocking kick of the footy. Big downgrade on

His disposal efficiency would be well over 75%

[Brunswicksainter]

Macrae now also linked on SEN. Would be a shocking acquisition IMO. Completely overrated and shocking kick of the footy. Big downgrade on

His disposal efficiency would be well over 75%

Career kicking efficiency is 67%? Averaging 2.6 clangers by foot a game - Riley bonner level stats.

He also averages just 11.7 meters gained per disposal, which I believe ranks him among the most ineffectual players to ever play 200+ games. Even in his prime years he was always the type of player you would love to let off the hook because the more ball he had the worse off the dogs were.

[Saint 58]

Where do you get your stats from ?
From I can see he's been in the mid+ 70's for the last eight years

https://www.ultimatefooty.com.au/players/1469

[skeptic]

I wouldn’t want McRae

[Brunswicksainter]

Where do you get your stats from ?
From I can see he's been in the mid+ 70's for the last eight years

https://www.ultimatefooty.com.au/players/1469

Wheeloratings.com you are looking at disposal efficiency not kicking efficiency. His DE % are skewed heavily by his handball to kick ratio.

[Saint 58]

Fair enough, everyones HB stat would do that
He's Jack Steele standard (kicking, handball)
Wouldn't rate either as "shocking"
I'd still take him for 2-3 years until the kids grow up

[B.M]

Are you serious

At his best at the dogs he was a gun

3 x All Australian

Fair dinkum

[D.B.Cooper]

Macrae was an absolute gun player.

His down side was alack of leg speed and as the game gets quicker and he ages this deficiency is getting more exposed.

I really like his as a player, but I don' t think he suits Ross' want for run and carry.

[SaintPav]

Read a rumour that Curtis Taylor will be a saint next season.

Don’t know anything about him.

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players ... aylor.html

[Beno88]

Read a rumour that Curtis Taylor will be a saint next season.

Don’t know anything about him.

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players ... aylor.html

Would take him in a heartbeat. Good footballer.

[Brunswicksainter]

Tomlinson now linked as an unrestricted free agent by various sources.

[Brunswicksainter]

Dan Houston categorically denied that he will leave port on five AA this morning. He was emphatic in his denial so we can probably put a pin in that one.