What we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is an honest to god FOOTBALLER. Yes, you heard it. A footballer at the MFC. He can mark it, he can kick it AND (now this is key) he will bloody shepherd for you once he gives you the ball.

Can take a hanger too. Very nice. I'd love to see him, Clark and Jurrah all fit and firing in the forward line, although I'm worried that Clark is going to kill a few of his team-mates unlucky enough to drift into his path next year. Can someone allay my concerns in that regard?

Also, add Cloke and we go from the worst forward line in years (ie the one we fielded today) to perhaps our best ever.

you guys seem to be forgetting peter yeo. ps clark shouldn't play at full forward, he will kill himself the way he flies for marks.

Neeld could have taken the easy step after seeing Howe's marking ability and just thrown him forward and keep him there for his career. Good on Neeld for trying to make him into more then a highlight reel.

Neeld does seem to like most players to have more than one string to their bow, which can only be good though very frustrating for fans starved of success for so many years.

Howe's induction into the midfield can only enhance his natural talents as a marking forward. If he keeps it up he will be a big AFL drawcard, as Liam was starting to become before his various injuries and other issues.

Let us all (trolls excepted) hope that the hard work of this year, reassessment and the learning of their various new roles, pays off big time in the next few seasons.

Then we will all (trolls excepted) be happy to hail Neeld as the next Norm Smith!!

Edited August 6, 201212 yr by monoccular

Just need to work on his set shot goal kicking and we will have a real keeper on our hands.

There may be a few others who were "better" over entire careers, but gee this guy is pretty young and is getting very consistent, hes basically starting to do them every week.......will put bums on seats for us imo....

Edited August 6, 201212 yr by Wadda We Sing

The next step is to have teammates that you implicitly trust to shepherd, tackle and spread hard.

And kick to advantage.

ps clark shouldn't play at full forward, he will kill himself the way he flies for marks.

Clarke , Howe and Jurrah will end up killing each other.

Just saw Jeremy interviewed on the Channel 10 news. He has been nominated eight times this season for mark of the year. Good on him - hope he wins.

Just saw Jeremy interviewed on the Channel 10 news. He has been nominated eight times this season for mark of the year. Good on him - hope he wins.

Saw that too, seems like a good kid.

Some spud will probably take the most amazing mark ever in the last round, just to not let us win anything this year.

Carey or Ablett snr is the best contested mark I've ever seen.

Carey or Ablett snr is the best contested mark I've ever seen.

Weren't we talking high, or spectacular marks with regards to Howe ? You know, old fashioned "speccies".

If you're talking "contested" marks I'd have Stewie Loewe and Gary Dempsey ahead of the two you mention.

I just want to see Howe actually kick a goal after he's taken a mark....

I just want to see Howe actually kick a goal after he's taken a mark....

You mean you've never seen that ?

You mean you've never seen that ?

Not sure why you are bothering BH

You mean you've never seen that ?

I've seen him kick goals but I'd like to see his conversion rate for set shots after marks...he may be suffering oxygen deprivation but I reckon he gets ahead of himself and doesnt set himself up properly.

Not sure why you are bothering BH

If thats what you think I cant see why you're bothering myself

Trevor Barker would be far and away the finest exponent of high-marking in the video era of AFL/VFL. Jeremy Howe may well challenge him in time, if his sublime 2012 is any indication.

Best Hangers of all time.

1.Smiths hanger at the Gabba.

2.Howe every week

3.Capper

4.Robbo

5. The rest.

Best Hangers of all time.

1.Smiths hanger at the Gabba.

2.Howe every week

3.Capper

4.Robbo

5. The rest.

jezza says hi

and michael mitchell in wafl took a screamer in the 70's

Tony Modra -- speccies every week

Ross dillon and Greg parke and peter collcott

Best Hangers of all time.

1.Smiths hanger at the Gabba.

2.Howe every week

3.Capper

4.Robbo

5. The rest.

you'd have to add Modra,

and I'm sure there are many more if i set my mind to it

If we are talking about speccies and hangers Howe is certainly right up there. But as best contested mark, not yet. When his feet are on the ground an/or grappling with an opponent he is still average. At the moment a one trick pony who gives us something to cheer about when the game is usually long gone. Will break his neck one day the way he is going. Do less of hanging around the back of packs and start being more proactive and lead up more. I could see him becoming more of a Jason Dunstall type. The long bombing game plan we now have does not help him though. Him and Clark are endangered species.

Man has springs for legs.

He's not the best contested mark yet - but if he does it for his whole career he'll be right up in the top 3.

Does what Robbo never could and take 'em overhead.

at this point he has a highlight reel that is pound-for-pound with Modra, who is a way overlooked star of the past. If you've forgotten, just check this out:

giant leap, sticky hands, perfect timing and the ability to read the fall of the ball.. genuine muscle/presence is the only criteria of contested marking that he doesn't have in spades, but who needs that when you have those other abilities

Edited August 23, 201212 yr by Curry & Beer

I've seen him kick goals but I'd like to see his conversion rate for set shots after marks...he may be suffering oxygen deprivation but I reckon he gets ahead of himself and doesnt set himself up properly.

It was (meant to be) a rhetorical question.