Howard set to be delisted

[AndrewP6]

From the Sunday Herald-Sun:
http://m.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/hawks-rule-out-play-for-mitch-clark-no-takers-for-mitch-robinson-and-more-in-the-sunday-session/story-fn69a32t-1227058074164

Also noted is the Western Bulldogs plan to restructure the medical dept, with Drs Landsberger and Zimmerman to oversee the changes.

[bulldogtragic]

Thanks Andrew. Not sure the Hun an call it News?

[The Underdog]

Thanks Andrew. Not sure the Hun an call it News?

Shall we go with fate?

[bulldogtragic]

Shall we go with fate?

Fate. Inevitability?

[SquirrelGrip]

Hardly breaking news!

[F'scary]

Hang on - hold everthing, he played a good game for Footscray yesterday, sure we're not being too hasty?

[always right]

People have been calling for him to be delisted the last three years....yet it hasn't happened. If he is finally delisted, I reckon that's news.

[Remi Moses]

No great surprise.

[LostDoggy]

It's a given he must be delisted but geez he showed some passion yesterday after kicking that goal from 50. Melted my Bulldog heart.

[ledge]

Doesn't mean he won't stay at footscray

[westdog54]

From the Sunday Herald-Sun:
http://m.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/hawks-rule-out-play-for-mitch-clark-no-takers-for-mitch-robinson-and-more-in-the-sunday-session/story-fn69a32t-1227058074164

Also noted is the Western Bulldogs plan to restructure the medical dept, with Drs Landsberger and Zimmerman to oversee the changes.

I'll believe it when I see it.

The Medical side of things may be on the back of our VFL Team Doctor being arrested and charged over some prescriptions he made to bikies.

[ledge]

Wasn't he already gone by the time that came out ?

[westdog54]

Wasn't he already gone by the time that came out ?

Being that the VFL team is still going, we haven't made any annnouncements re delistings. You would think they'd come in week following the VFL GF.

[1eyedog]

That's a real shame for Howard - the Dal Santo minus the skill. I hope he has a good send off at Footscray and hope he'll be picked up by the Aints.

[Mofra]

The Medical side of things may be on the back of our VFL Team Doctor being arrested and charged over some prescriptions he made to bikies.
May be a shake-up of the physios too - heard whispers that Will & Bobby don't use the club physios and travel to Ascot Vale to see an osteopath

[craigsahibee]

I'll be there for his farewell game this week. Hopefully we can dove-tail Mark Austin into the equation also.

[Dancin' Douggy]

The Christian Howard selection will burn in my gut forever. FOREVER I SAID!!!!!

[Twodogs]

Did you say forever?

[GVGjr]

Guys, if it's true that Howard is leaving the club lets not have any parting shots at him. He didn't ask to be selected in the first round which has become such a focus and I just hope we can be a bit more generous with our comments. We need to remember there are no sure things with draft selections.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Did you say forever?

No, I didn't say forever. I YELLED forever.

[Dancin' Douggy]

To be fair, I criticised the selection, not the person.
The decision of the recruiting staff is not Christian's fault.
The decision will burn in my gut forever, but I have absolutely no ill will towards Christian.

I believe my track record will show I'm not a 'player basher'.

[GVGjr]

To be fair, I criticised the selection, not the person.
The decision of the recruiting staff is not Christian's fault.
The decision will burn in my gut forever, but I have absolutely no ill will towards Christian.

I believe my track record will show I'm not a 'player basher'.

Sorry if it came across that way, I just wanted to make it clear to all that while it might not have worked out like we hoped for Howard we shouldn't be ridiculing him.
In more normal circumstances he might have been a 3rd round selection and we would have measured him against the likes of Pearce or a slow developer like Easton Wood. Prior to this years break out by Easton Wood there wasn't a huge difference in output between the two of them. Wood was never under the scrutiny that Howard was.

[The Doctor]

Guys, if it's true that Howard is leaving the club lets not have any parting shots at him. He didn't ask to be selected in the first round which has become such a focus and I just hope we can be a bit more generous with our comments. We need to remember there are no sure things with draft selections.

100% correct

if anything the recruiter Simon Dalrymple should be held to account. He is the one who should face the music and made to understand how stupid his decisions were in that draft. Hopefully the club has imposed key selection criteria on Dalrymple so that he will not gamble on any future draft picks.

[lemmon]

100% correct

if anything the recruiter Simon Dalrymple should be held to account. He is the one who should face the music and made to understand how stupid his decisions were in that draft. Hopefully the club has imposed key selection criteria on Dalrymple so that he will not gamble on any future draft picks.
To be fair Stringer, Macrae and Bontempelli were all considered relative reaches at the time. I have a lot of faith in Dalrymple's methods considering recent results.

[Dancin' Douggy]

I judge the recruiting staff harshly for this one because no one knew who the hell Christian Howard was when we called his name out.
We could have probably taken him with a rookie pick.

The players we ignored to select an absolute unknown gamble included...........
(and I know we've been over this before but I just want it to really sink in).

We could have on our list RIGHT NOW instead of Christian...... any of the following names.
Without Trading them in or offering 5 year multi million dollar deals etc etc.

NAT FYFE
JAKE CARLISLE
SAM REID
JACK GUNSTON

And a whole bunch of good solid next tier players.

The decision was a destiny changing moment in my opinion. And has set us back years.
Pick 15 should never be thrown away on a mid paced mid sized unknown flanker.
I know the recruiting staff has made some great decisions over the last few years but this one still stings.

[azabob]

100% correct

if anything the recruiter Simon Dalrymple should be held to account. He is the one who should face the music and made to understand how stupid his decisions were in that draft. Hopefully the club has imposed key selection criteria on Dalrymple so that he will not gamble on any future draft picks.

They have. But, the worry for you is, it is a Brendan MacCartney designed key selection criteria.

[Remi Moses]

To be fair Stringer, Macrae and Bontempelli were all considered relative reaches at the time. I have a lot of faith in Dalrymple's methods considering recent results.

That seems to be conveniently forgotten .
Most of us ( including me) condemned him for picking MB instead of Aish 12 months ago.
Yeah the Howard selection has stunk, but I trust his judgement .
Must be taken into account the idiotic situation where are chief recruiter was part time.

[Throughandthrough]

I judge the recruiting staff harshly for this one because no one knew who the hell Christian Howard was when we called his name out.
We could have probably taken him with a rookie pick.

The players we ignored to select an absolute unknown gamble included...........
(and I know we've been over this before but I just want it to really sink in).

We could have on our list RIGHT NOW instead of Christian...... any of the following names.
Without Trading them in or offering 5 year multi million dollar deals etc etc.

NAT FYFE
JAKE CARLISLE
SAM REID
JACK GUNSTON

And a whole bunch of good solid next tier players.

The decision was a destiny changing moment in my opinion. And has set us back years.
Pick 15 should never be thrown away on a mid paced mid sized unknown flanker.
I know the recruiting staff has made some great decisions over the last few years but this one still stings.

We've been through this before. The Dogs were planning/expecting to get Howard at a later pick, but somehow it leaked out the day of the draft that we were all over Howie, and there was a big story in the Adelaide Advertiser that day written by Andrew Capel spilling the story. This forced our hand and the decision was made that we still wanted him so we used an earlier pick. Sometime after the draft Richmond admitted that if we didn't take Howard then they would have. Another club (can't remember who) also admitted strong interest. Howard was a real smokie, and hadn't been involved in the State u18 team and had played more footy for Sacred Heart u18's than Glenelg that year, and yes he had slipped completely under the popular radar.


Here's the original article

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/bolter-from-the-bays/story-e6frekfc-1225804070347


AN unheralded Glenelg junior has emerged as one of the biggest bolters of today's AFL national draft.

Dashing half-back Christian Howard was not invited to this year's AFL draft camp or State screening sessions but his phone has run hot in the past few weeks, with seven clubs, including the Crows, expressing strong interest in him.

Howard - who played a starring role in the Tigers' successful under-18 finals campaign - has gone from an outside rookie-list hope to a possible top-30 pick on the back of a late-season surge and two strong finals performances.

Hometown club Adelaide began the chase, contacting the 18-year-old last month. Calls from the Western Bulldogs, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Hawthorn, Richmond and Sydney have followed.

"Things have happened so quickly that I struggle to even think about it," Howard said.

"I had heard rumours during the season that some scouts were watching me but I never spoke to anyone or believed it until I got a call from a management group (Justin Reid's ESP) a month or so ago.

"Since then, the interest has started and the phone's pretty much run hot."

Described as being a mix of Hawthorn's Luke Hodge (kicking skills), Geelong's Andrew Mackie (the way he patrols half-back) and Adelaide's Brad Symes (physique and running ability), Howard's star has risen so quickly he is being considered as high as a second-round pick.

"Christian's virtually come from nowhere," said SA under-18 coach Brenton Phillips, who did not pick him in his State squad.

"He was getting 10-to-12 touches a game at under-18 level early in the year but by the end of the season he was winning the ball 20-to-22 times and using it well. He has turned into a dashing left-footer who is such an elite kick that he virtually nails them every time."

Brought through Glenelg's junior grades as a midfielder but used this season as an attacking half-back flanker, the 187cm Howard was the Tigers' designated under-18 kicker. His kicking was so strong it drew comparisons to Norm Smith Medallist Hodge.

"He's got that depth and accuracy with his kicking, which is so important in footy these days," Glenelg football manager Ken Applegarth said. "And he's got that uncanny ability to read the play and find the footy. It's amazing how quickly he's developed this year and he works so hard on his game that it's no surprise to see AFL clubs chasing him. He really does tick all the boxes."

Howard, who joined Glenelg's junior program at 11 from Sacred Heart College, said he has no doubt his brilliant under-18 finals series has helped his draft standing. "If you play well in big games it certainly helps" he said.

Last month, Howard had not contemplated watching the draft. Now he and his parents will converge at his grandparents Kidman Park home to see it unfold. "They've got Foxtel and I don't," he said. "So we'll sit there and hope things turn out well. I don't care at what number I go, as long as it happens."


Follow up

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/capel-honoured-at-media-awards/story-e6freckc-1225935821726

SENIOR football writer Andrew Capel was hailed by the SANFL with one of its highest media honours last night as The Advertiser and localfootysa.com.au won major awards.

Capel's 30 years in football journalism - stretching from Messenger Newspapers, the Sunday Mail and The Advertiser - was recognised by SANFL president Rod Payze with the league's "Outstanding Achievement Award".

Capel also claimed the best print story award for his accurate assessment of Glenelg defender Christian Howard's rise to the AFL as a first-round draft pick to the Western Bulldogs last November.

[LostDoggy]

Described as being a mix of Hawthorn's Luke Hodge (kicking skills), Geelong's Andrew Mackie (the way he patrols half-back) and Adelaide's Brad Symes (physique and running ability), Howard's star has risen so quickly he is being considered as high as a second-round pick.

Wow. Everyone compares a potential draftee to current players, but I'm not sure, 5 or so years down the track, that he resembles any of those players. Congrats on the award Andrew Capel.

[Dancin' Douggy]

To be fair Stringer, Macrae and Bontempelli were all considered relative reaches at the time. I have a lot of faith in Dalrymple's methods considering recent results.

Oh Come ON!!!! Bontempelli was hovering in the top 10. Stringer was the best Junior in the land before he broke his leg and Macrae was best on ground in the TAC grand final. They were all good decisions and perhaps slight reaches but they were no Christian Howards.

[F'scary]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/...-1225935821726

SENIOR football writer Andrew Capel was hailed by the SANFL with one of its highest media honours last night as The Advertiser and localfootysa.com.au won major awards.

Capel's 30 years in football journalism - stretching from Messenger Newspapers, the Sunday Mail and The Advertiser - was recognised by SANFL president Rod Payze with the league's "Outstanding Achievement Award".

Capel also claimed the best print story award for his accurate assessment of Glenelg defender Christian Howard's rise to the AFL as a first-round draft pick to the Western Bulldogs last November.

Sounds like he was being rewarded for services to his State by running a clever provocateur disinformation campaign.

The Howard recruitment will go down in the annals of the AFL as being second only to the Tambling debacle.

[BulldogBelle]

I judge the recruiting staff harshly for this one because no one knew who the hell Christian Howard was when we called his name out.
We could have probably taken him with a rookie pick.

The players we ignored to select an absolute unknown gamble included...........
(and I know we've been over this before but I just want it to really sink in).

We could have on our list RIGHT NOW instead of Christian...... any of the following names.
Without Trading them in or offering 5 year multi million dollar deals etc etc.

NAT FYFE
JAKE CARLISLE
SAM REID
JACK GUNSTON

And a whole bunch of good solid next tier players.

The decision was a destiny changing moment in my opinion. And has set us back years.
Pick 15 should never be thrown away on a mid paced mid sized unknown flanker.
I know the recruiting staff has made some great decisions over the last few years but this one still stings.

Add Michael Barlow and Stewart Crameri who were rookied that draft. Geelong's Menzel was taken soon after Howard.

[stefoid]

we've been through this before. The dogs were planning/expecting to get howard at a later pick, but somehow it leaked out the day of the draft that we were all over howie, and there was a big story in the adelaide advertiser that day written by andrew capel spilling the story. This forced our hand and the decision was made that we still wanted him so we used an earlier pick. sometime after the draft richmond admitted that if we didn't take howard then they would have.

ding ding ding ding ding!!!!!

[stefoid]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/...-1225935821726


Sounds like he was being rewarded for services to his State by running a clever provocateur disinformation campaign.

The Howard recruitment will go down in the annals of the AFL as being second only to the Tambling debacle.

as allah is my witness

499

[macca]

You can add , frost , rampe and podsiadly. Frost would have been an ideal replacement for Dale. why are we afraid of Richmond drafting a player we want to get for a 3rd rounder. Would happily swap a grant for riewildt. I can't believe we missed the Reid brothers given their pedigree .

[Happy Days]

If trading is the work of the devil, then retrospective drafting is the work of Little Nicky.

Surely no one blames Howard for where he was drafted?

[Remi Moses]

You can add , frost , rampe and podsiadly. Frost would have been an ideal replacement for Dale. why are we afraid of Richmond drafting a player we want to get for a 3rd rounder. Would happily swap a grant for riewildt. I can't believe we missed the Reid brothers given their pedigree .

Rampe by his own admission wasn't ready for AFL footy while at Willy.
I agree with Frost ( remember him playing well against port in a final)
Sam Reid ( we cocked up there ) but Ben went top 10 in about 06

[Sedat]

Fyfe and Reid instead of Howard and Tutt. Would be handy right now.

Christian Howard reminds me of my Tigers mate when talking about Todd Menegola, an old Richmond relic from the mid 90's - beautiful kick, just can't find the ball and can't play. Alas, Howard wasn't even a good kick.

[chef]

The Howard recruitment will go down in the annals of the AFL as being second only to the Tambling debacle.

No it wont, it's not even close. There'd be at least a 100 worse draft pick ups than that. Melbourne alone has made dozens in the last decade

[soupman]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/...-1225935821726


The Howard recruitment will go down in the annals of the AFL as being second only to the Tambling debacle.

Because it clearly wasn't as bad as the Lucas Cook pick (pick 10 who was delisted two seasons later), or the McDougall pick, or the Mitch Thorp pick etc.

It looks terrible when you say "we could have selected Fyfe, or Carlisle etc" but Howard was just one of many disappointing selections in that draft from every club.

[lemmon]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/...-1225935821726


Sounds like he was being rewarded for services to his State by running a clever provocateur disinformation campaign.

The Howard recruitment will go down in the annals of the AFL as being second only to the Tambling debacle.
That Howard article available anywhere?

[Axe Man]

That Howard article available anywhere?

Bolter from the Bays (http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/bolter-from-the-bays/story-e6frekfc-1225804070347)

According to this we were just 1 of 7 clubs that spoke to him pre-draft. Seems there was plenty of interest in him, unfortunately we jumped before the others.

[F'scary]

No it wont, it's not even close. There'd be at least a 100 worse draft pick ups than that. Melbourne alone has made dozens in the last decade


Because it clearly wasn't as bad as the Lucas Cook pick (pick 10 who was delisted two seasons later), or the McDougall pick, or the Mitch Thorp pick etc.
...


Hmmm, I think I better strategically concede the point. Ok, you guys are correct. The Dees record is spectacularly woeful over quite a number of years. I went and reviewed their choices on Footywire and kept cracking up over and over as I flipped through the years.

[bulldogtragic]

I'm going to stop my negativity. Yes he's crap, but we selected him. If he read this thread he'd be shocked that there seems no ceasation to the angst. The point is when you make mistakes in life to not do make them again, so far so good.

Thanks for trying Christian and good luck for your career in SANFL or local footy. Hope your best on this Sunday.

[Dancin' Douggy]

I think the whole point of this thread is to criticise the selection panel. Not the player.
If we can't criticise the decision we'll just walk on eggshells forever.

[bulldogtragic]

I think the whole point of this thread is to criticise the selection panel. Not the player.
If we can't criticise the decision we'll just walk on eggshells forever.

Criticise away, I'm not telling you not to. I think there's 10,000 posts or criticism about the issue. How many more is up for everyone else to work out, all I'm saying is I wish him well and will move my attention to other things. Like a Grand Final, father sons, draft and things which are about going forward and not back. All I said was MY intention to change focus, there's no egg shells, say what you like.

[Dancin' Douggy]

Fair enough Bulldogtragic, it's just that it was SUCH A HUGE CLANGER it's hard to let go.
Lest we forget and all that.
Never again.....never again.

[bulldogtragic]

Fair enough Bulldogtragic, it's just that it was SUCH A HUGE CLANGER it's hard to let go.
Lest we forget and all that.
Never again.....never again.

I'm hearing ya Dougie, I'm still getting over Koops for Dave Mundy. We could have Fyfe, Barlow & Mundy in another universe. The lesson is trade better, draft better and get better state players. But it's getting to the point where we are furiously agreeing. I've never seen our club, AFL or VFL play in a grand final so I'd rather move on myself, not telling anyone else what to do though.

[LostDoggy]

For better or worse Christian, you will be remembered. Good luck with your future endeavours, hopefully you leave as a VFL premiership winner:)

[Throughandthrough]

It almost seems like some of the posters on here would be happier if Howard played a stinker in the GF, and cost Footscray the match, by the tone of some of the posts. FFS the young guy was chosen by the dogs, moved to Melbourne away from his very close family and did his best. Obviously in complete hindsight we could have drafted a much better player, but he's still a human, for crying out loud. I Hope he wins a flag with Footscray and has a great match. <<rant over>>

[bornadog]

I think the whole point of this thread is to criticise the selection panel. Not the player.
If we can't criticise the decision we'll just walk on eggshells forever.

Personally I hate discussing we should have done this or done that. What I am more concerned about is not repeating mistakes, list management and who will we be drafting this year or next.

[BulldogBelle]

Certainly not Howard's fault how this panned out. Big strategy error on the Dogs part, which I think the club has learnt from. First round should be best available/potential stars. Role players (such as a half back flanker with a deadly boot) should be drafted in later rounds. We did it right last draft. Bonti (a star) first, Fuller. (A role player, half back flanker with a deadly boot) late. If Fuller doesn't work out, we haven't really lost out, just rolled the dice and we're unlucky.

[craigsahibee]

Confirmation on the bulldogs Website that Howard, Goodes and Young will not be retained on the list. Surely that is not the end of it.

[LostDoggy]

Good luck to Christian. He'll forever be a Footscray premiership winner.

[DISHLICKERS]

Good luck to Christian. He'll forever be a Footscray premiership winner.

De-listings were pretty much expected I would say, no real surprises there.

As for Christian how nice does Footscray Premiership winner sound?

Go the Scray

[Pedro Sanchez]

De-listings were pretty much expected I would say, no real surprises there.

As for Christian how nice does Footscray Premiership winner sound?

Go the Scray

I know his age is a factor but I reckon Goodes is a bit stiff. He's a better player than VFL level. Also interesting that Young got flicked. They must rate Austin ahead of him.

In my book, Howard just lacked intensity to consitently play at the highest level.

What are others thoughts on our two father-son prospects Foster and Cordy. Will we make a play for both?

[AndrewP6]

Good luck to all three, I hope they stay on at Footscray.

[GVGjr]

Confirmation on the bulldogs Website that Howard, Goodes and Young will not be retained on the list. Surely that is not the end of it.

There might be a couple more

[LostDoggy]

Guys, if it's true that Howard is leaving the club lets not have any parting shots at him. He didn't ask to be selected in the first round which has become such a focus and I just hope we can be a bit more generous with our comments. We need to remember there are no sure things with draft selections.


Well said GVGjr..

[azabob]

There might be a couple more

Are you talking outside of Higgins, jones & wood?

[bulldogtragic]

Taking the smart arse comments aside, what happened to turn Howard from a 100 game AFL player less than 12 months (said BMac) ago to de-listing today? With being genuine, what did BMac see then that he no longer sees now? I didn't see too much difference from his last VFL season to this VFL season.

[boydogs]

Taking the smart arse comments aside, what happened to turn Howard from a 100 game AFL player less than 12 months (said BMac) ago to de-listing today? With being genuine, what did BMac see then that he no longer sees now? I didn't see too much difference from his last VFL season to this VFL season.

Could have just been trying to show confidence in him to see if that helped

[ledge]

Maybe he meant at another club :-)

[GVGjr]

Are you talking outside of Higgins, jones & wood?

Yes, some more decisions might depend on who else wants out or if there is interest in a potential trade.