Not much in it really.

If he wants 650k then he is welcome to it... at another club. He isn't worth that much.

Am I right in saying that he is a restricted free agent though, so we could see which offer he takes and just match it anyway?

Clubs need to trade for him. I would demand a top 15 pick

Probably 10-12 players more important to us than a serviceable flanker who takes some great hangers. Good to keep him but happy to get overs in picks or players to build our list.

We shouldn't lose him, good clubs don't lose good players.

The loss of mature talented players has to stop or we shall never rise.

Consoling ourselves with "another kid with promise" is horse-[censored]... makes us perennial losers.

This line interests me the most:

The Demons would have a massive amount of salary cap room given their young list and the departure of highly-paid key forward Mitch Clark.

Would love to keep Howe but hey, would also love to use this 'massive amount of salary cap room' to lure a BIG name youngish mid, or 2

I'd hope that the club internally have a transparent way of discussing salary with all the players that has integrity and demonstrates how they'll build and hold a team capable of winning flags while also compensating them well for their talents and contributions.

The ad-hoc grab-bag media approach is just for headlines (as you say).

We shouldn't lose him, good clubs don't lose good players.

Geelong - Ablett

Hawthorn - Buddy

WCE - Judd

All clubs lose players. It's the way things are.

Who the hell does this bloke think he is. An 80 game career with the flashes of hangers and he feels the need to put contract talks till the end of the year just to see where the club is going and a possible chance of finals in the future?? What an absolute [censored] cop out.

Messege to you Jeremy Howe. Take a leaf out of Nathan Jones career who has stuck by this club through the darkest and most lowest time of its history. He didn't need to wait for future plans or etc. Also take a good hard look at your teamates in Salem Hogan JKH Brayshaw Viney who have all signed contract extensions because they know where this club is going and have the up most faith in PJ and Roosy.

Pull ya finger out of your ass Jeremy or go join your best mate Frawley at the Hawks

Edited April 24, 201510 yr by dazzledavey36

I think if he moved, it would decrease his personal brand value as well. He needs to take that into consideration too.

That wouldn't be front of my mind if I had 8 years to make a lifetime's worth of money.

Doesn't look good.

Very good player - one trick pony is baloney.

Terrific 3rd forward or intercept player down back as he proved last year.

An absolute tragedy if he goes - cannot help but wonder who has thrown big money at him already for 2016 onwards.

Club has to move heaven and earth to keep him.

Cannot stomach struggling clubs like MFC producing players only for the AFL cashed up new clubs or Geelong,Hawthorn etc.to then snaffle them.

C'mon Jeremy - have a look at Jonesy and his loyalty.

No, Ebola is a tragedy. This would be losing an averageish flanker who hasn't really been able to pin down which end of the ground he should flank on.

Who the hell does this bloke think he is. An 80 game career with the flashes of hangers and he feels the need to put contract talks till the end of the year just to see where the club is going and a possible chance of finals in the future?? What an absolute [censored] cop out.

He's an employee of a football club who has every right to negotiate a salary in a way that benefits him the most.

God the outrage about this is ludicrous.

I like Howey, but wouldn't really be fussed if we traded him away (depending on the outcome of said trade). He doesn't strike me as the kind of player that will lead the MFC charge from cellar dwellar to top 8 side, I think he's built up too much scar tissue from the Bailey - Neeld era.

Who the hell does this bloke think he is. An 80 game career with the flashes of hangers and he feels the need to put contract talks till the end of the year just to see where the club is going and a possible chance of finals in the future?? What an absolute [censored] cop out.

Messege to you Jeremy Howe. Take a leaf out of Nathan Jones career who has stuck by this club through the darkest and most lowest time of its history. He didn't need to wait for future plans or etc. Also take a good hard look at your teamates in Salem Hogan JKH Brayshaw Viney who have all signed contract extensions because they know where this club is going and have the up most faith in PJ and Roosy.

Pull ya head ya finger out of your ass Jeremy or go join your best mate Frawley at the Hawks

Nathan Jones...what a dream boat...

Clubs need to trade for him. I would demand a top 15 pick

No they don't. As a restricted free agent they make an offer and we can match it, or not. I guess if we match it he could still say he wanted out in which case I guess the club might trade. Though that doesn't seem logical. I'm not sure if he goes as a restricted free agent if we get a priority pick

The good thing about Howe is that I was expecting him to go the trajectory of other Bailey-Neeld encompassing players. Down, injured, and then down some more. It's disappointing he hasn't turned into a mercurial forward, but the fact he's still playing decent footy is good enough for me. It's shocking to think about howe (no pun intended, I'm just a terrible speller) he could perform at another club.

No they don't. As a restricted free agent they make an offer and we can match it, or not. I guess if we match it he could still say he wanted out in which case I guess the club might trade. Though that doesn't seem logical. I'm not sure if he goes as a restricted free agent if we get a priority pick

He's not a free agent, restricted or otherwise.

He needs to be on our list for 8 years to be a free agent. This is only his what, 5th year? Let's just hope he doesn't leave two games short of the magic hundred. So close to father son eligibility it would kill me!

Ralphy rings player manager seeking a scoop. Manager says little except for a vague mention that he will talk to Melbourne soon. Ralphy runs as a story padding out with editorial comment and speculation. Demonland gets nervous!

Clubs need to trade for him. I would demand a top 15 pick

So we could get another Cale Morton, Lucas Cook, Jordan Gysberts, Jack Watts or Jack Trengove or maybe Tom Scully?

Who the hell does this bloke think he is. An 80 game career with the flashes of hangers and he feels the need to put contract talks till the end of the year just to see where the club is going and a possible chance of finals in the future?? What an absolute [censored] cop out.

Messege to you Jeremy Howe. Take a leaf out of Nathan Jones career who has stuck by this club through the darkest and most lowest time of its history. He didn't need to wait for future plans or etc. Also take a good hard look at your teamates in Salem Hogan JKH Brayshaw Viney who have all signed contract extensions because they know where this club is going and have the up most faith in PJ and Roosy.

Pull ya head ya finger out of your ass Jeremy or go join your best mate Frawley at the Hawks

One thing's for sure - Howe won't be receiving $650k a year at the Hawks.

Hope he re-signs though - I don't want to see us lose any more required players, and I really like Howe.

So we could get another Cale Morton, Lucas Cook, Jordan Gysberts, Jack Watts or Jack Trengove or maybe Tom Scully?

Or another Petracca, Brayshaw or Salem... Move on dude, new recruiting team in place

This is a Ralph article so who knows what to believe but let's not forget he was playing Tasmanian league and no club was looking at him until we took a chance on him.

Scully leaving hurt because he was number 1, but he never owed us anything we were just lucky we had pick 1, anyone would've taken him.

Howe begged us for a chance, we gave it to him and he's looking to up and leave when the team needs leaders coming forward to take this team up the ladder... Pathetic attitude players have these days and I wonder how Frawley etc could even look Jones in the eye.

If he's wanting to leave to a contender for an armchair ride, I'd be wanting to make sure the door hits him on his way out.

He has some value, if he wants to stay for a LOT less than $650k then great, if not I would not be to fussed losing a hbf/hff who can't go through the midfield and doesn't rack up large possessions or goals. Top 10 pick or a talented mid would be more beneficial long term.

Is it so much about Howe... as when ?

I would think Roosy is bringing the players together tighter by the week, this is a mission that requires blanket commitment to the team. The Chip and Clark trades have shown how the Club manages this, players looking to be wooed are already in the gun and a spot is available for players looking to join a team.