Universal Love Dan Houston

[Jack Grange]

Because he's a footballer not an athlete.

Probably has an average beep test, average 20 metre sprint, average vertical leap, etc. The fact that he can hit a teammate on the chest 99 times out of 100 doesn't really come into it.

'Because he's a footballer not an athlete' sums it up really...we actually have a footballer/player who can; read the play which cannot be taught as you either have it or you don't, exceptional kick under pressure, tough, team player, and is a very good mark particularly intercepting balls coming in...oh and he is still only 20...oh and he captained his U18 team which confirms leadership.
Yep I can see why he was overlooked at the draft...lol

 

[Andre]

Given kicking is the primary skill of the game, why is that seemingly not taken into account at all? Instead players are pigeon holed into positions, athletic profiles and perceived potential. It's like SPP going pick 18 because recruiters thought he had a 'low ceiling'. Sometimes it's obvious who the best players are and you just have to pick them.

Self-preservation to a degree, IMO. If you pick an athlete and they can't football, it's easy for fans to do 'man, with his speed and agility if only ...' and forgive the punt. If you pick a footballer and they can't get the fitness right, everyone these days is programmed to go 'why did we pick a slow plodder, this isn't the 70's! our recruiters are shit!'. Obviously you want the complete package, but we aren't handed 5 first round picks a year like GWS. We don't want to recruit a bunch of Mitch Harvey's, but it's good, at least in this case, we weren't afraid to draft a footballer, not an athlete.

 

[Lagooner]

I'm still amazed at his progress this year. Pre season I had him nowhere near the 22 and now he is a deadset lock.

 

[Zakk Wylde]

I think the rise of this lad has pretty much stamped the Kraks cards unfortunately

Those cards were stamped a long while ago.

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

Those cards were stamped a long while ago.

Yeah fair call

How about "put the last nail in the coffin"?

 

[Fizzler]

The straw that shattered the camel's already broken back?

 

[Power Raid]

now this is a milestone to be celebrated

 

[jonasshirtfront]

Hopefully once he builds up his self belief he can start being a bit more attacking.

I don't really get the "Houston plays it safe too much" takes, you might assume that from his DE% numbers but he hits a LOT of really hard targets, 45-50m away. He is a legitimate weapon with that leg and aside from the second half of the Richmond game when he seemed to go a bit off the boil (he wasn't Robinson Crusoe there either) he's been pretty much flawless all year with his kicking.

 

[Duck Farmer]

Can someone au fait with juniors and the draft process explain why he went so late?

Nice size, so poised, beautiful disposal.

Was he injured or didn't get an even shake on his U18 team or what?

Because he's a footballer not an athlete.

Probably has an average beep test, average 20 metre sprint, average vertical leap, etc. The fact that he can hit a teammate on the chest 99 times out of 100 doesn't really come into it.

Thought I was in the Tom Brady thread there for a minute.

 

[OneGreatClub]

The Moseley needs a Houston Burger and an Austin Burger.

 

[Steve Dore]

The Moseley needs a Houston Burger and an Austin Burger.

The patty in the Austin burger should be made of Spam.

 

[tnk64]

I was umpiring a game on the weekend and overheard that one of the other umpires was interested in the Port game.
"Wow! Am I umpiring with another Port fan?" I thought to myself. "There's not many of us down here".
And so I proceed to ask him. "You a Port supporter?"
"Brother plays for 'em." He replies.
"Holy shit! The brother of a Port player?" (Fortunately I managed to keep this inside my head). "Which one?" I ask.
"Dan Houston." He replies.
Back within the confines of my mind, I'm wondering how to approach this. "Dan Houston's brother. I have ask him something! But what?"
"Oh no!" A horrible thought enters my head. "If his brother's in Melbourne, Houston must be a Vic boy! What if he leaves? Oh, well now's my chance to find out."
"So you're a Melbourne boy. Dan's not gonna request a trade to a Melbourne club is he?" I ask.
"Dude, he re-signed just this week".
"Oh yeah..."
And that's how I made an absolute idiot of myself in front of Dan Houston's brother.

 

[tnk64]

In regards to the issue of whether he's "too safe" as a player, I've noticed that it seems to have been something he's really improved on since coming back into the side. He's really been kicking more aggressively, and it's paying off. Obviously these are fairly crude measures, but I think this view is supported by his Supercoach and Disposal Efficiency numbers. In rounds 1-7 he was average ~4.3 Supercoach points per disposal; since round 13 he's averaged ~4.8. (For comparison, DBJ, Broadbent, and Pittard average ~3.9, ~3.7 and ~3.7 respectively. The highest averages come from Dixon and Ryder, for obvious reasons). This rise has come in spite of a fairly substantial decline in disposal efficiency (while remaining pretty good), from ~82.6% to 76.8%. Obviously Supercoach scores are harder to understand than a proof of Fermat's last theorem, but I'm still happy to take those numbers as support for the idea that he's really working on that part of his game.

 

[Lagooner]

Bring back Dan please.

He can do this amazing shit where he kicks the football and it goes to another dude wearing the same clothes.

 

[PAFC66]

i dont know why he was dropped?

 

[PowerBaz]

i dont know why he was dropped?

Pittard returning

 

[Magus]

i dont know why he was dropped?

Ken values seniority over performance.

 

[PAFC66]

Ken values seniority over performance.

Well yeah he's trying to save his job.. unfortunately it's going to backfire. Don't let the door smack your ass on the way out.

 

[Magus]

Well yeah he's trying to save his job.. unfortunately it's going to backfire. Don't let the door smack your ass on the way out.

I don't see how that's saving his job. Picking players based on form would be more likely to win us games.

 

[Lefti93]

i'd even settle for him up front in our senior side. he's a dead eye, & probably has more forward nous than everyone in our non-existent forward line put together.

 

[Steve Dore]

i'd even settle for him up front in our senior side. he's a dead eye, & probably has more forward nous than everyone in our non-existent forward line put together.

He was recruited as a forward.

 

[Schulzenfest]

In amongst all the Dooooooooooooooooooooooogsing, congrats to Dan Houston on his first AFL goal today.

21 touches at 81% efficiency too. Would have to be a chance for a long overdue Rising Star nom.

 

[RossFC]

Super consistent player that can actually kick. Please stop dropping him Ken.

Broadbent can play SANFL.

 

[Lagooner]

Leftover Ports Cap monies will be donated to the Dan Houston Uniform Appeal.

 

[LP7_]

Watching this bloke kick the ball makes it all worth attending.