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The Magpies have soldiered on without the gun distributor having much of the ball.
“I’ve found little patches in games where I’ve been really solid, and then it’s hard to get involved in other patches,” Houston said. “But I have spoken to ‘Fly’ [McRae] plenty of times throughout the season and I am getting used to the system, getting used to the boys, making sure my running patterns are right…I just need to keep sticking at it.”
Josh Daicos has received plaudits for his performances in 2025Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Houston’s average disposals per game have dropped from above 20 in each of the past three seasons to 16.9 per game.
His greatest weapon, his kicking, has remained in his holster with his average number of kicks per game down to 10.8 kicks per game when he averaged above 15 per match since 2022.
This season he has had five games where he has had fewer than 10 kicks.
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In the three previous seasons there were just three matches in total in which he kicked the ball fewer than 10 times.
The way Josh Daicos plays his role as a rebounder has also made life different for Houston as he is often left defending when Daicos pushes up the ground.
Houston has found a reassuring voice in the locker next to him. Lachie Schultz did not shy away from the fact he battled to make the impression he hoped in his first season at the Magpies. But he has well and truly shown his value in his second year, recapturing the form he showed at Fremantle.
“I speak to ‘Shooter’ [Schultz] regularly, and even ‘D-Mac’ [Dan McStay] because in their first year at the ‘Pies they went through similar stuff, not finding [the ball] as much or just being at a new club, learning how everyone else plays and how the ’Pies play,” Houston said.
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Those conversations reminded him that the coach and his teammates trust him. No one in the competition doubts his ability. It’s just yet to be unleashed fully in the Magpies’ jumper.
“I know it would be nice to impact the game more but getting out there with the boys playing in the defence, it’s awesome,” Houston said.
McRae’s faith is helping Houston focus on what is in front of him rather than agonising over what has happened.
“I always say to ‘Fly’, ‘I want to get involved more, I want to get involved more. I want to make sure I’m impacting games’,” Houston said. “He sort of restrains me a little bit, just tells me to calm down.”
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The Magpies have soldiered on without the gun distributor having much of the ball.
“I’ve found little patches in games where I’ve been really solid, and then it’s hard to get involved in other patches,” Houston said. “But I have spoken to ‘Fly’ [McRae] plenty of times throughout the season and I am getting used to the system, getting used to the boys, making sure my running patterns are right…I just need to keep sticking at it.”
Josh Daicos has received plaudits for his performances in 2025Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Houston’s average disposals per game have dropped from above 20 in each of the past three seasons to 16.9 per game.
His greatest weapon, his kicking, has remained in his holster with his average number of kicks per game down to 10.8 kicks per game when he averaged above 15 per match since 2022.
This season he has had five games where he has had fewer than 10 kicks.
Loading
In the three previous seasons there were just three matches in total in which he kicked the ball fewer than 10 times.
The way Josh Daicos plays his role as a rebounder has also made life different for Houston as he is often left defending when Daicos pushes up the ground.
Houston has found a reassuring voice in the locker next to him. Lachie Schultz did not shy away from the fact he battled to make the impression he hoped in his first season at the Magpies. But he has well and truly shown his value in his second year, recapturing the form he showed at Fremantle.
“I speak to ‘Shooter’ [Schultz] regularly, and even ‘D-Mac’ [Dan McStay] because in their first year at the ‘Pies they went through similar stuff, not finding [the ball] as much or just being at a new club, learning how everyone else plays and how the ’Pies play,” Houston said.
Loading
Those conversations reminded him that the coach and his teammates trust him. No one in the competition doubts his ability. It’s just yet to be unleashed fully in the Magpies’ jumper.
“I know it would be nice to impact the game more but getting out there with the boys playing in the defence, it’s awesome,” Houston said.
McRae’s faith is helping Houston focus on what is in front of him rather than agonising over what has happened.
“I always say to ‘Fly’, ‘I want to get involved more, I want to get involved more. I want to make sure I’m impacting games’,” Houston said. “He sort of restrains me a little bit, just tells me to calm down.”
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
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