A club whose season has only recently come to an end is “keen to get in front of” one of the best defenders in the league amid their push for greater success.

And new developments have come through on a superstar Bulldogs midfielder and his recent trade request.

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HOUSTON, WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

Trade rumours continue to swirl around dual All-Australian star Dan Houston at Port Adelaide, despite comments late last month that publicly stated his allegiance to his club of nine years.

Speaking to Fox Footy’s On The Couch on Monday night, Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph made mention of Carlton’s want for the dashing defender in their side as of next year.

“They’re very keen to get in front of Dan Houston, they know it will take potentially a first-rounder or more,” Ralph revealed.

Houston had previously been linked to the Melbourne Football Club, but that link was shut down a couple of weeks ago as a result of his on-air comments to Adelaide radio station FIVEaa.

“Dan Houston would be a good pick up; he’s the type they need – the time is now,” Brisbane Lions champion Jonathan Brown added.

“They’ve got Nic Newman I know, but he’s a bit of a sideways player, and isn’t as penetrating as a Dayne Zorko or Dan Houston.”

In terms of a cost for the Blues in a hypothetical trade, the asking price to begin with would be two first-rounders from the Power – the reported asking price of Melbourne when similar theories were reported around last month.

“First-rounder and the rest, a little bit more than that I would have thought,” Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley added.

Carlton’s exit meetings are from Wednesday to Friday this week, drawing the curtain on a season that ended with an elimination final loss in Brisbane to the Lions.

“Caleb Marchbank, David Cunningham, Jack Martin – I think all those guys are in trouble. Matt Owies hasn’t got a deal after 60 goals in the last two years… move on some of those blokes that have let you down availability wise, and get some stars in,” Ralph finished by saying.

SMITH’S DESTINATION ALL BUT CONFIRMED

The preferred home of Bailey Smith in 2025 has re-emerged less than 24 hours after his official request to be traded by the Western Bulldogs this off-season.

Unsurprisingly, Geelong – a club he has been linked to all season – is reportedly his destination of choice, despite the club highlighting stating he did not request a specific team in his request.

Notwithstanding the Bulldogs’ official position, Channel 9’s Tom Morris provided an update on Smith’s situation the same night of his trade request.

“I can be categoric about this, Bailey Smith wants to play for Geelong next year – even if he didn’t officially tell the Western Bulldogs officials today,” Morris asserted.

“He was at Whitten Oval for a couple of hours and escaped questions from reporters at the oval – but he did tell the Western Bulldogs why he wants to play for another club this year; describing in some detail why he wants to leave.

“Hawthorn and Collingwood asked the question (earlier in the year), but this has been a fait accompli for most of the year that he does want to play for the Cats next year.”

Pending fair compensation, the Bulldogs look prepared to get Smith to his club of choice – but what that reimbursement is, remains to be seen.

“Compensation really is different depending on who you speak to – the Bulldogs will ask for a lot, Geelong will say he’s out of contract and don’t need to give up anything more than their first pick – which if they win the flag, will be about pick 21,” Morris added.

Smith has played 103 games at the Bulldogs between the years 2019 and 2023, before missing the entirety of this season due to a ruptured ACL sustained in the pre-season.