He is one of four brothers who were all drafted to Australian Football League clubs, alongside Damian, Ryan[1] and Josh, from Wahgunyah on the Murray River, in northern Victoria.
Houlihan made his debut in Round 4, 1997 with the Geelong Football Club against Essendon.
A hamstring injury kept him out for most of 2004, returning late in the season for four games but incoming coach Terry Wallace decided Houlihan did not fit in with his plans.
At 26 years of age, Houlihan decided that his career was already over and he ruled out playing AFL football again.
He instead returned to his earlier interest in horse racing, hosting a horse-racing tips show with Brett Phillips and Nick Evans on radio station SEN 1116 and training jockeys in diet and fitness.