He was drafted by the Port Adelaide Football Club with their third selection and 45th overall in the 2016 rookie draft.[1] Prior to the start of the 2017 season, he was promoted to the senior list[2] and subsequently made his debut in his team's 28-point win against Sydney in the opening round of the season at the Sydney Cricket Ground.[3]
Houston received the AFL Rising Star nomination for round 21 after gathering 21 disposals and kicking his first AFL goal in the 27-point win over Collingwood at the Adelaide Oval.[4]
In 2020, Houston was handed a two match suspension for breaching the AFL's COVID-19 protocols, after he and teammate Peter Ladhams had invited unauthorised visitors into their home.[5]
In round 16, 2023, Houston had a best-on-ground possession count of 32 as well as kicking a 55- to 60-metre goal after the siren to defeat Essendon by 4 points, the 57th player to kick a winning goal after the siren in 127 years of VFL/AFL history.[6][7] Houston's form was rewarded with his first selection into the All-Australian team in 2023.[8] He also finished third in the John Cahill Medal count that year, behind fellow All-Australians Connor Rozee and Zak Butters.[9]
During the third quarter of the 56th Showdown against cross-town rivals Adelaide, Houston engaged in rough conduct with Izak Rankine. Rankine was immediately concussed, having to be stretchered off the ground. Houston was sent immediately to the AFL's tribunal,[10] and banned for five matches after an unsuccessful appeal, meaning he missed the rest of the season.[11]
In October 2024, despite previously stating in August he would remain at Port Adelaide, Houston requested a trade to a Victorian club.[12][13] He was eventually traded to Collingwood as part of a "mega trade" involving three clubs and five players.[14] He signed a six-year deal for Collingwood.[15]
^The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.