The AFL's biggest trade fell apart leaving a star in limbo. Here's his ...

A mega three-team trade that would’ve sent Dan Houston to Collingwood was all but locked in ... until it wasn’t.

Houston was one of five players set to be on the move in a deal between Port Adelaide, Collingwood and Gold Coast until the Power pulled the pin on the exchange.

Below is the proposed three-team deal that fell apart.

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PORT ADELAIDE RECEIVE: Jack Lukosius, Joe Richards, Rory Atkins, Pick 13, 29 and 36

COLLINGWOOD RECEIVE: Dan Houston, Pick 58

GOLD COAST RECEIVE: John Noble, Pick 39, future first-round pick (tied to Port Adelaide), future first-round pick (tied to Collingwood)

And so it’s back to the drawing board, with Houston — and the other players involved — back in limbo some 30 hours out from the end of the trade period on Wednesday.

Below are the scenarios on where a Houston move goes from here.

THREE-TEAM TRADE REVISTED

This feels like the most likely option give how close a deal was, so one or two moves could get it over the line.

The question, however, is how Gold Coast or Collingwood could stump up additional assets given what was already on the table, with the Power effectively needing more to be satisfied.

The Suns’ priority was getting value for their Pick 13 as the other true centrepiece of the deal. They also still need enough points for a Leo Lombard bid in this year’s draft plus selections in next year’s draft — where they have four Academy players including the highly-rated Zeke Uland.

Beyond what was originally tabled, Gold Coast holds picks 6, 23, which are tied to a trade with Richmond for Daniel Rioli, plus 41, 50 and 78.

As for next year, the Suns would have picks 6, 24, 42 and 60 based on their 2024 ladder position.

On the Collingwood side of things, it’d be left with just picks 52 and 55 in this draft if the mooted deal went through. The Pies would’ve also sent out their 2025 first rounder, leaving them with just selections 28 and 46 next year (based on 2024 ladder position).

If Collingwood was to give up that future second rounder, which, it’s unknown if that would even be enough to get a deal across the line (particularly with this year’s draft rated higher), it’d be left with virtually no draft assets over two drafts.

The Pies also have 2025 father-son prospect Tom McGuane, who could go in the first-round range, they’d need draft points for.

It’s hard to see Collingwood offering another player given it’s already giving up Noble and Richards, albeit fringe players, but Finlay Macrae and Reef McInnes could be thrown up and may have more appeal than Gold Coast’s Rory Atkins. Still, would that be enough to satisfy Port?

Of course, the Power isn’t exclusively trading Houston — they also want Lukosius and Richards — so there’s a level of urgency or their end, though they could make separate deals and keep Houston.

It’s worth noting Port is giving up a future first rounder in the deal, so it might look to send out a lesser pick, which is being forwarded to the Suns.

It’s also possible Port is bluffing and simply holding out for more, but will eventually accept the original deal. And it’s not known how much more they want — if it’s say another first-round pick or a top 10 pick, the three-team trade essentially falls over.

It’s fair to say clubs being able to draft picks two years in advance would’ve been handy for this scenario.

Suns’ leftover draft assets beyond originally mooted deal

Picks 6 and 23 (tied to Daniel Rioli), 41, 50 and 78, future first rounder, second rounder and third rounder

Pies’ leftover draft assets beyond originally mooted deal

Picks 52 and 55, future second rounder and third rounder

FOURTH TEAM ADDED FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY

If the Suns and Pies are defiant on not giving up more, the next option could be getting a fourth club involved, if it hasn’t already been discussed.

After all, there’s still a plethora of deals to be completed ahead of Wednesday’s deadline.

For example, could the likes of GWS (owns Picks 15 and 16), Melbourne (Picks 5 and 9), North Melbourne (2), Richmond (1, 14, 20, and 24 plus what it gets for Rioli and Shai Bolton) or St Kilda (Picks 7 and 8) look to split their picks or move around their draft hands in some shape or form?

That could be either to get more selections in this draft or bolster their 2025 draft hand.

Ultimately, there’s 15 other clubs with priorities and things they need to get done, so they could look to enter the conversation.

STAYS AT PORT ADELAIDE

Tough to say if a Houston would be more prepared to stay at Port Adelaide or move to North Melbourne (more on that later).

What we know is that there’s no bad blood per se from the Houston camp and the Power and that he’s prepared to go back to the club if required.

That’s an important factor compared to other situations of year’s past that have been toxic to the point that there’s a bigger desperation for the club to get a deal done or risk compromising its culture.

Houston is contracted for three more seasons until 2027, so he could always opt to stick things out for another 12 months then reassess his options this time next year.

However, from a Port perspective, the star halfback’s value will likely never be higher than it is right now, with Houston coming off the two best years of his career for two All-Australian blazers.

Houston will also be turning 29 in the 2026 season, so naturally suitors mightn’t want to give up as much.

The predicament for the Power is the clubs he’s reportedly keen to get to — Collingwood and Carlton — didn’t have nearly as good a draft hands compared to the teams other wantaway stars like Shai Bolton and Daniel Rioli have wanted to get to.

It’s a similar situation the Dogs face with Bailey Smith. If Geelong had a worse season and thus a better pick, a deal would’ve been more straightforward.

Whereas if the Dogs could’ve opened up a Smith trade to the open market, it’d naturally get better offers.

Unlike Smith though, Houston, as mentioned, is contracted, so he can’t walk to the draft as a last resort.

GOES TO NORTH MELBOURNE

This is something Houston might now need to consider. He did meet with the Kangaroos, so there’s some level of interest there.

If he truly is that determined to get to Victoria, North Melbourne becomes a realistic option.

But throughout this trade period North hasn’t been seen as a true suitor, so a lot would need to change over the next 24 hours. Might be time for Alastair Clarkson to get his best persuasive hat on.

At the end of the day, the Roos have always had the best offer for Houston, having reportedly tabled their future first rounder. On recent history, that’s been a top two pick.

So it would really come down to whether Houston is really that keen to get to Victoria and join a rebuilding club — albeit a club on the rise that will be eyeing finals Wioin the coming years.

The other club that was in the picture was Carlton, but it’s doubled down on its strategy of bolstering its draft hand to the point of getting Pick 3, effectively ruling out the Blues.

With all that in mind, there’s clearly still a lot to play out and multiple avenues that could be taken in a very fluid situation.