Martin Flanagan has written another Demon based article. Someone can post a link as that is outside my skill set.

His writing is always a wonderful read but I most like the fact that even through our darkest times he wrote about the game, it's spirit & joy (and sometime it's pain). As a kid growing up it was the excitement of a Saturday morning before the game that hooked me. I always remember an ad from the 70s or 80s (I think it was the old "football, meat pies, kangaroos & Holden cars) with the crowds leaving the train at Jolimont. All buzzing before the game.

Today Martin has written about Howie. Gives him a big wrap to. The best part of this article is the acknowledgement of Howe's mark over Embley at the G early last season. We've all seen his specky's from behind against Sydney & Port (well just about everyone) but that for me was his most ridiculous (you could add the one against Footscray at Docklands late last season but that idiot boundary umpire spoilt the party by saying he didn't control it over the line). For him to have the courage to go back like that and attempt the high mark over a player coming towards him and bring it down clean as a whistle, WOW!

The last 3 seasons have been very hard for all of us and I'm not quite willing to open myself up yet to the prospect of improvement (we all know where that's ended up the last few years) but while we continue to have the likes of Howe in the Red & Blue at least there is some joy.

One last thing on Martin, if you get a chance to read the article he wrote after his Dad passed away you will not regret it. A few years back now.

Here 'tis

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/jeremy-howe-the-melbourne-demons-excitement-machine-20140522-zrl8z.html

Good article but jeez for an experienced journalist. . Russell Robinson...

Good to see Russell Robinson make a comeback.

Good article but jeez for an experienced journalist. . Russell Robinson...

Yeah that kind of ruined the article for me, silly I know. Everytime he mentioned Robbo I just thought, "c'mon you got Robertson wrong?" Also how about the lack of mention of the wizard, one of the best aerialists the game saw in 90s/00s.

Long term it's going to be interesting to see what he does with Howe, I still think his best position is in the forward line, particularly when the ball is kicked in quick so as not to give the opposition time to stifle his run. He's also still only learning when to go the grab and when to go the first, an art form in it itself as a defender.