Bulldog Howard aiming for VFL start

[The Coon Dog]

Just slightly off topic, who are the 'host families' interstate players are matched with? Are they club employees? Anyone know anything about them?

Just ordinary folk Andrew.

I was approached by Gary O'Sullivan towards the end of 1994 & asked to host a new recruit, which I did for a year.

Lots of washing, but the biggest impact is on the grocery bill (the club assists) & diet. Never ate as much rice & pasta later in the week as I did in 1995.

[AndrewP6]

Just ordinary folk Andrew.

I was approached by Gary O'Sullivan towards the end of 1994 & asked to host a new recruit, which I did for a year.

Lots of washing, but the biggest impact is on the grocery bill (the club assists) & diet. Never ate as much rice & pasta later in the week as I did in 1995.

Cool, thanks for the info. I guess I'm a little far from Whitten Oval to get a call!

[mjp]

Cooney, Griffen, Higgins, Ward, Gilbee, Giansiracusa, Cross, Lake, Morris, Harbrow, Boyd, Hargrave, Murphy, Hahn........

In fairness, Cooney, Griffen, Murphy and Higgins were consensus first rounders - Cooney and Griffen were picked when we had basically finished last and had the pick of the crop...

Harbrow, Boyd and Morris were rookies.

Lake, Gilbee, Gia, Crossy, Ward and Mitch were those mid-range picks you need to hit to be successful - and it seems that we have. Time will tell whether or not the others in that category - everyone from this draft, as well as the likes of Reid, Addison, Boumann, Roughead, Wood, Jones, Stack, Hill etc - come through or not. If we have a good hit rate with those (assuming that we get something out of Everitt and Grant as high first rounders) then we will be recruiting geniuses. And will win lots of games.

[Sockeye Salmon]

In fairness, Cooney, Griffen, Murphy and Higgins were consensus first rounders -

Higgins wasn't. He wasn't as left-field as Howard but was generally considered to be likely in the 20-40 range.

That 10-20 range does have an awful lot of misses in it anyway so that in itself makes Higgins and Murphy fantastic picks. Both would be in the best couple of their drafts.

[GVGjr]

What sort of output would be a realistic aim for young Howard in his debut season?
Playing close to a full season in the Williamstown senior side would rate very well wouldn't it?

[Bulldog Revolution]

What sort of output would be a realistic aim for young Howard in his debut season?
Playing close to a full season in the Williamstown senior side would rate very well wouldn't it?

I think thats the right type of goal for Howard - Playing mostly senior VFL footy and preferrably having some good games.

I wont be concerned at all if he plays some reserves footy, particularly early as he gets his hip right. I think the main thing is for his development trajectory is to be injury free and heading in the right direction as the season progresses.

[mjp]

He wasn't as left-field as Howard

Has any first rounder EVER been as left field as Howard?

[Sockeye Salmon]

Has any first rounder EVER been as left field as Howard?

Luke Molan?

[LostDoggy]

Molan was touted as a player likely to go in the second or third 'rounds. His history of injury is reminiscent of Walsh.

[mjp]

Luke Molan?

Yeah - maybe. But you had think hard to come up with him at least!

[Go_Dogs]

Higgins wasn't. He wasn't as left-field as Howard but was generally considered to be likely in the 20-40 range.

That 10-20 range does have an awful lot of misses in it anyway so that in itself makes Higgins and Murphy fantastic picks. Both would be in the best couple of their drafts.

I had been under the impression that Higgins was fairly highly rated by most, and if it hadn't been for injury worries he would have probably been taken in the first half dozen.

[GVGjr]

I had been under the impression that Higgins was fairly highly rated by most, and if it hadn't been for injury worries he would have probably been taken in the first half dozen.

That's how I remember it. Higgins was definitely touted as a potential first round pick in fact at least one side rated him in the first 6.

[Go_Dogs]

That's how I remember it. Higgins was definitely touted as a potential first round pick in fact at least one side rated him in the first 6.

Yes, the Hawks were surely very keen and having just checked the Burgatron from 2005, he named Higgins going to Hawthorn at Pick 6, but for some fortunate reason they selected Ellis and Dowler (along with Birchall, Bailey and Muston inside the top 22 ) and we walked away with Higgins.



Back on Howard, I think what you mentioned earlier GVGjr is spot on. A season in the VFL seniors would be a good goal, and as form/injuries dictate, perhaps an opportunity for a taste of AFL would be great, but by no means should that determine whether he had a successful season.

[Throughandthrough]

Have finally got around to watching teh replay of the 2009 U18 SANFL Grand FInal. Am about half way thru the second half and Howard's done nothing at all apart from a nice goal from a set shot.

Is a great game of footy to watch tho.

[LostDoggy]

Has any first rounder EVER been as left field as Howard?

Tom Williams?