Dogs find a home for the bolter

[The Coon Dog]

PETER HANLON - November 27, 2009

THE bewildered postings on a Western Bulldogs fan forum started within minutes of Christian Howard's name being called at selection 15 last night. ''Surprise pick.'' ''They know something we don't.'' And simply, ''WTF???''

So began the AFL life of the bolter of the 2009 draft, a young man who could not make the first 18 at Adelaide's Sacred Heart College last year, wasn't picked for South Australia at this year's national under-18 championships, missed an invite to both the draft camp and state screening sessions, and didn't feature in a handout of 220 potential draftee profiles circulated last night.


Article in full... (http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/dogs-find-a-home-for-the-bolter-20091126-jux6.html)

[Mantis]

Great to read that the shock of being selected at pick 15 has made Christian grow 3cm.

(From Matt Burgan's phantom draft on the afl website)

42 - GEELONG - Christian Howard
DOB: 19/03/91, Height: 184cm, Weight: 81kg
Recruited from: Sacred Heart College/Glenelg (SA)
Draft range: 31-60

[Go_Dogs]

They must have read the Advertiser yesterday, or my post referencing the Advertiser who did list him at 187cm.

[Mantis]

I think it's great that we can't even get a consistent or possibly correct height for our first pick reported when compared to the Melbourne supporters who know what Scully eats for breakfast.

[Go_Dogs]

I think it's great that we can't even get a consistent or possibly correct height for our first pick reported when compared to the Melbourne supporters who know what Scully eats for breakfast.

Hopefully he can adjust his height depending on our needs against any given opposition.

[KT31]

I hope they know what they are doing.
Not the season to be picking smokies.

[bornadog]

I hope they know what they are doing.
Not the season to be picking smokies.

Especially over the next few years with GC and GWS coming in.

[Swoop]

It would be re-assuring to see how he performed against the other players considered elite for that age group but unfortunately he didn't make state squads so that is certainly a question mark hanging over his head at this early stage of his career.

[Ozza]

I hope they know what they are doing.
Not the season to be picking smokies.

All picks are speculative. Whether its Melbourne's 1 & 2 picks, our pick at 15 or pick 50.
The 14 picks before us were all 'safe' picks - nobody can criticise who you picked up if thats what everyone expects.

I like that our blokes backed their judgement and picked a player they thought could add to our list and was the best available - regardless of where he was/wasn't listed in the Herald Sun.

[EasternWest]

Good luck son. Welcome to the best club in the land.

[KT31]

All picks are speculative. Whether its Melbourne's 1 & 2 picks, our pick at 15 or pick 50.
The 14 picks before us were all 'safe' picks - nobody can criticise who you picked up if thats what everyone expects.

I like that our blokes backed their judgement and picked a player they thought could add to our list and was the best available - regardless of where he was/wasn't listed in the Herald Sun.

Haven't read a paper in weeks and I truly hope our blokes have got it right.
Not meant as an indictment on any draftee and I wish them the best.
Only time will tell.
Welcome to the Doggies to all recruits.

[BulldogBelle]

A player can have all of the talent in the world, but have a bad attitude when it comes to training, workrate- on and off the field, and it seems that Christian is the type of player we want at the WO

Sounds like Dalrympe was very diligent in his review of Christian, by speaking with his teachers, Christian himself, and watching him play on numerous occasions

Have my fingers crossed that we have made the right decision...