Collingwood's star recruit was struggling. How Shooter, D-Mac and Fly came to the rescue
His positioning is becoming sharper. His running patterns are becoming more instinctive. And his mind seems less cluttered.
Although such shifts are often barely recognisable to anyone but the trained coach's eye, there were positive signs in the second half against Richmond, when he helped Collingwood open up a break on the Tigers.
'He is going forward,' McRae said. 'If you watch him closely enough he is heading towards [becoming] a player who could have a significant impact for the rest of the year.'
Coming off back-to-back All-Australian seasons, Houston was the most publicised trade of last year. He had multiple suitors and his transfer from Port Adelaide to Collingwood had enough drama and plot twists to fill a reality TV show.
The defender began 2025 with a bang, best on ground in his first game for the Magpies against his old team. Then he was suspended two games later for a similar bump to the one that ruled him out of Port Adelaide's finals campaign last year.
Back in Melbourne and with his start interrupted, he had to reset.
He has only missed one match since returning for Anzac Day, but has been, in some ways, missing.
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