Welcome to Demonland: Blake Howes

[spirit of norm smith 16,487]

Round 1 his 2nd game.  Good snapshot from the Age footy … 
 

Howes stands out for Demons

Lost in the wash of how bad the Demons were in Opening Round was the quality of the debut of Blake Howes for the Demons. He was even better on Sunday against the Dogs.

He is so clean with his ball use, particularly by foot. He was denied a brave and clever mark running back with the flight when Jake Lever pushed Cody Weightman under the ball, but he shows he has an aerial side to his game. He has composure with the ball and makes the right decisions.

[leave it to deever 17,511]

Terrific young player whose disposal has been very good.

Our backline stocks are very strong.

[roy11 3,858]

1 hour ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Round 1 his 2nd game.  Good snapshot from the Age footy … 
 

Howes stands out for Demons

Lost in the wash of how bad the Demons were in Opening Round was the quality of the debut of Blake Howes for the Demons. He was even better on Sunday against the Dogs.

He is so clean with his ball use, particularly by foot. He was denied a brave and clever mark running back with the flight when Jake Lever pushed Cody Weightman under the ball, but he shows he has an aerial side to his game. He has composure with the ball and makes the right decisions.

Bound to pick up Rising Star nomination soon

[durango 2,014]

He is 191cm which in the old days 1950's would have been a key position player not a flanker, I have been impressed by his composure when gets the footy.

The MFC backline last week was tall and yet did not lack the speed to keep smaller players in check.

He should get a rising star nomination this year.

Edited March 20 by durango

[jnrmac 20,109]

8 hours ago, durango said:

He is 191cm which in the old days 1950's would have been a key position player not a flanker, I have been impressed by his composure when gets the footy.

The MFC backline last week was tall and yet did not lack the speed to keep smaller players in check.

He should get a rising star nomination this year.

Carlton's Ruckman of the Century John Nicholls was 192cm!

[durango 2,014]

56 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Carlton's Ruckman of the Century John Nicholls was 192cm!

John was only 189 but weight 105kgs, Alan Morrow was 183 and 89kgs.

[Demon Disciple 12,191]

Wait until he fills out his body 🤩

[spirit of norm smith 16,487]

Blake Howes got his debut in 2024 after a frustrating run of injuries over the two prior years.  In 2024, Howes played as a mid-tall defender   

played 16 games 

averaged 14 disposals per game 

Imv his best game was shown in the high of 22 possessions in Rd23 win over the suns , including 10 marks 

a year to settle in and show he belongs 👏👏

Now for 2025 

Howes should continue his confidence to develop and become a regular.  He fits in.  He could either be a floating defender or alternatively might return to his original design as a half forward with good movement, skills, marking and goalkicking.  There is a space there with ANB’s departure. He’s athletic. At 192cms, he’d have some aerial ability to be dangerous.   I think he can be the new HFF in 2025 and beyond.  

[adonski 12,295]

22 minutes ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Blake Howes got his debut in 2024 after a frustrating run of injuries over the two prior years.  In 2024, Howes played as a mid-tall defender   

played 16 games 

averaged 14 disposals per game 

Imv his best game was shown in the high of 22 possessions in Rd23 win over the suns , including 10 marks 

a year to settle in and show he belongs 👏👏

Now for 2025 

Howes should continue his confidence to develop and become a regular.  He fits in.  He could either be a floating defender or alternatively might return to his original design as a half forward with good movement, skills, marking and goalkicking.  There is a space there with ANB’s departure. He’s athletic. At 192cms, he’d have some aerial ability to be dangerous.   I think he can be the new HFF in 2025 and beyond.  

One of the more intriguing players on the list, has the athleticism and talent, but never looked totally settled at the level, at least to the point where he did much with ball in hand

A big watch for 2025

[bluey 1,108]

Happy to have another look before I make an assesment.

[DeeZone 9,913]

Blake Howes has the height, skills and athleticism to play half forward, half back and wing, I would like to see him swap with Trent Rivers as Riv moves into the midfield, Howes has the ability to step up into the current Riv role but does he have Riv’s determination and toughness. Show me the “Money” Blake.

Edited October 28 by DeeZone
The money

[BAMF 4,363]

Showed enough for us to be optimistic that 2025 will be the year he can develop into a consistent best 23 player.

Good height. Clean pickup. Decent defensively. Decent disposal.

He looks a smidgen slower than he needs to be to nail that position. He was recruited as a winger as memory serves?

[SPC 3,551]

He has lots of talent and scope for improvement. He lets himself down with his defensive work, especially when the ball is on the ground. Needs to get stronger legs and core and keep his feet. 
Hoping that he can cement a spot like AMW in the back half. 

[Young Blood 2,632]

Forgot he's only 21!

Would be awesome for him to really own his spot down back next season as he showed more then enough this year that he can perform at the level. Looked to have really worked on the defensive side of his game in terms of positioning and providing pressure to go along with his strengths over head and solid decision making.

At some stage would love to see him move up the ground in a more attacking role to utilise that athleticism but for now continue to carve out that role down back. Credit to the kid for switching from his junior level positions (Wing/HF) to play a role down back. If he ends up being a Lever type intercept marking defender with that level of consistency then great. He's certainly learning from the very best back there.

[demoncat 1,485]

Could he become a Nick Blakey type? Almost a hybrid third tall / running half back? 

He’s certainly got skill so the upside is there 

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,190]

How does he compare with Lever at just 21? Fairly well, I suspect?

[Roost it far 8,328]

On 28/10/2024 at 16:36, bluey said:

Happy to have another look before I make an assesment.

We wait with with bated breath

[dazzledavey36 55,126]

4 hours ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

How does he compare with Lever at just 21? Fairly well, I suspect?

How does he compare?

Well for starters Lever made the initial All Australian squad at just 21 years of age.

By 21 Lever was a 3x best 22 and under of the best talent in the league.

Had a Rising star nomination by the.

Howes not even remotely close to this.

[58er 6,464]

On 28/10/2024 at 15:30, adonski said:

One of the more intriguing players on the list, has the athleticism and talent, but never looked totally settled at the level, at least to the point where he did much with ball in hand

A big watch for 2025

Did very well with disposal I thought. Was composed and can’t wait to see Blake develop with more bulk and strength. HB or HF he will surprise us all I think with his development. Should aim to play AFL all year in 2025. 

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,508]

Have been really looking forward to seeing Howes get a good run of games after some terrible luck just prior to selection in previous years.  Thought he had a great start to the season but fatigued as the year went on. 
(Probably the most games he's strung together in a long time and even the mental stamina would be a challenge to maintain.)

Plenty to like about him going forward!

[Master Deebater 492]

40 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

Have been really looking forward to seeing Howes get a good run of games after some terrible luck just prior to selection in previous years.  Thought he had a great start to the season but fatigued as the year went on. 
(Probably the most games he's strung together in a long time and even the mental stamina would be a challenge to maintain.)

Plenty to like about him going forward!

I'm also looking forward to seeing how Blake develops next season. Along with our group of talented under 21's

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,843]

17 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

How does he compare?

Well for starters Lever made the initial All Australian squad at just 21 years of age.

By 21 Lever was a 3x best 22 and under of the best talent in the league.

Had a Rising star nomination by the.

Howes not even remotely close to this.

Wow.  Really shows what a freak talent Jake Lever is and how (pardon the pun) well we did to have recruited him over.

As an asides, along with loosing Brayshaw, Patracca and an injured Clayton Oliver, being down one and or both of Lever and Steve May really hurt our performances as the season wore on.  He's a player you often don't notice when he's there, but it make a huge difference to our defence when he's not.  Those critical of our 2024 drop off really do need to take a look at the injuries we copped to key players throughout the year as a moderating factor while making any judgements.

[58er 6,464]

19 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

How does he compare?

Well for starters Lever made the initial All Australian squad at just 21 years of age.

By 21 Lever was a 3x best 22 and under of the best talent in the league.

Had a Rising star nomination by the.

Howes not even remotely close to this.

That does not really say what’s happened to Blake in his first 3/4 years with injury. He showed last year enough in 15 games he has the ability and potential development with his body and footy brain to get to a higher standard quickly.

Jake does set high standards but I am confident Nlake will develop into an AFL player either HB or HF maybe a wing possibly. 

I feel along with Kolt he has probably a higher level of improvement available to go in 2025 and look forward to seeing him achieve that. He is slso a very deep thinker about his footy also. 

[Timothy Reddan-A'Blew 5,190]

Thanks for the Laughs, @Wilson7 and @Jeremy. I was actually sort of serious, just from the way he moves on the footy field. But @dazzledavey36's response reminds us all (you were with me, @DeeZone, with your Like?!) of the stark difference.

So the Laughs were well warranted!😄Lever really was some get, eh? We can only hope Howes provides as much 'Lever' as possible - perhaps now a little delayed - in the coming years.

[dazzledavey36 55,126]

I have high hopes for Howes, but not as a defender. 

Still think he can play his best footy as a roaming 3rd tall forward who can work up and down the ground, similar to Jack Gunston