The Magpies have soldiered on with out the gun distributor having a lot of the ball.
“I’ve discovered little patches in video games the place I’ve been actually stable, after which it’s arduous to become involved in different patches,” Houston stated. “However I’ve spoken to ‘Fly’ [McRae] loads of occasions all through the season and I get used to the system, getting used to the boys, ensuring my operating patterns are proper…I simply have to maintain sticking at it.”
Josh Daicos has acquired plaudits for his performances in 2025Credit score: AFL Pictures by way of Getty Photos
Houston’s common disposals per sport have dropped from above 20 in every of the previous three seasons to 16.9 per sport.
His best weapon, his kicking, has remained in his holster along with his common variety of kicks per sport all the way down to 10.8 kicks per sport when he averaged above 15 per match since 2022.
This season he has had 5 video games the place he has had fewer than 10 kicks.
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Within the three earlier seasons there have been simply three matches in complete through which he kicked the ball fewer than 10 occasions.
The way in which Josh Daicos performs his function as a rebounder has additionally made life totally different for Houston as he’s usually left defending when Daicos pushes up the bottom.
Houston has discovered a reassuring voice within the locker subsequent to him. Lachie Schultz didn’t draw back from the actual fact he battled to make the impression he hoped in his first season on the Magpies. However he has properly and really proven his worth in his second 12 months, recapturing the shape he confirmed at Fremantle.
“I communicate to ‘Shooter’ [Schultz] often, and even ‘D-Mac’ [Dan McStay] as a result of of their first 12 months on the ‘Pies they went by way of related stuff, not discovering [the ball] as a lot or simply being at a brand new membership, studying how everybody else performs and the way the ’Pies play,” Houston stated.
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These conversations reminded him that the coach and his teammates belief him. Nobody within the competitors doubts his skill. It’s simply but to be unleashed absolutely within the Magpies’ jumper.
“I do know it might be good to influence the sport extra however getting on the market with the boys taking part in within the defence, it’s superior,” Houston stated.
McRae’s religion helps Houston deal with what’s in entrance of him somewhat than agonising over what has occurred.
“I at all times say to ‘Fly’, ‘I wish to become involved extra, I wish to become involved extra. I wish to make sure that I’m impacting video games’,” Houston stated. “He type of restrains me a bit of bit, simply tells me to settle down.”
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