Player Watch Dan Houston

[eddiesmith]

It seems he's one of the 2026 whipping boys, along with Long and Lippa.
Some seem to think he's no good because he's not a Bruzzy style hard nut, but his foot skills are exquisite.

Hard to dislike a player with his talent, how could you not want a half back who can hit the 55m bullet pass?

Some I think just want footy to return to the 80s level or hardness with less skill involved.

Plus I don’t think he’s soft, probably a bit timid due to back to back suspensions.

 

[Lifelong Pie]

Hard to dislike a player with his talent, how could you not want a half back who can hit the 55m bullet pass?

Some I think just want footy to return to the 80s level or hardness with less skill involved.

Plus I don’t think he’s soft, probably a bit timid due to back to back suspensions.

He's nowhere near as hard as Ned Long unfortunately

 

[satty]

Did our system break him?
How else can we explain a back to back AA defender suddenly turning into chump.

It's like port had the Fair godmother version and the clock struck 12 during the trade period.

Has turned into a pumpkin.

 

[manicpie]

Did our system break him?
How else can we explain a back to back AA defender suddenly turning into chump.

It's like port had the Fair godmother version and the clock struck 12 during the trade period.

Has turned into a pumpkin.

I think so

 

[Saltness]

I think so

I think we could use him better.
Swans have Blakey and North the little left footer who are both running past and accepting from team mates so why not Dan

 

[Jelly Bean]

I think we could use him better.
Swans have Blakey and North the little left footer who are both running past and accepting from team mates so why not Dan

Because Dan doesn't run hard enough to do that.

 

[Stripes B and W]

Because Dan doesn't run hard enough to do that.

It's not even close.

 

[Saltness]

It's not even close.

I agree he doesn’t run hard enough but should be told he has to. He’s happy to run past if he can have a shot at goal so come on run Dan run

 

[thebigsaveloy]

Thought he's been pretty good so far this year but yesterday was one of my least favourite performances from him.

 

[Stripes B and W]

Thought he's been pretty good so far this year but yesterday was one of my least favourite performances from him.

He has been pretty good this year, with a few strong games and a couple of average games.
However, he was a dual, consecutive AA leading onto 2025.
Perfectly reasonable to expect much better than pretty good, something like AA squad and top 5 BnF. We have a reasonable sample size now to assess the trade.

 

[thebigsaveloy]

He has been pretty good this year, with a few strong games and a couple of average games.
However, he was a dual, consecutive AA leading onto 2025.
Perfectly reasonable to expect much better than pretty good, something like AA squad and top 5 BnF. We have a reasonable sample size now to assess the trade.

I think he's still capable of that kind of season with a role change. Needs to be more assertive in demanding the ball and has to play with more consistent defensive intensity. When he's doing neither he's not a huge asset.

Why isn't he taking all the kick-ins?

 

[Stripes B and W]

I think he's still capable of that kind of season with a role change. Needs to be more assertive in demanding the ball and has to play with more consistent defensive intensity. When he's doing neither he's not a huge asset.

Why isn't he taking all the kick-ins?

yes, perhaps he ought to be taking more, had 3 kick ins on Saturday. He had 2 other kicks for the day in 84% game time, let that sink in. That coming off a kickless second half the previous week.
Something has to change, role , structure or Dan himself

 

[satty]

Because Dan doesn't run hard enough to do that.

He is bringing the same running form he had port during his AA seasons.

For some reason our system isn't able to maximize his full ability.

 

[Dtennent94]

He is bringing the same running form he had port during his AA seasons.

For some reason our system isn't able to maximize his full ability.

We don’t back ourselves with short kicks in the backline, we normally take a safe kick near the boundary and/or go long. Sometimes we handball our way out of trouble.

 

[jmac70]

Well, Dan’s just zis guy, you know!