Welcome to Demonland: Blake Howes

[Deestroy All]

Just waiting on the origins of BH’s name, if there are any acronyms, abbreviations or initialisms involved before I decide on whether or not he’s a good pick. 

[Wizard of Koz]

On 11/24/2021 at 2:12 PM, spirit of norm smith said:

A lot of the media write ups have “Jack Gunston” as his player comparison.  He seems to be a very good mark and loves a goal.  Howes seems more agile as well and can play anywhere across the lines.  Would be a very good addition if he was the chosen one. 

He already looks harder than Gunston. Physically and attack on the ball.

[Wizard of Koz]

1 hour ago, adonski said:

Budget Bailey Smith I reckon by the way he moves

Surely they'll look at him as an inside mid

I am tipping he chases better than Bailey Smith or he wont getting a game. Watch the Langdon goal in the final quarter. Smith just pointed in deep defence and walked meekly as Langdon ran the length of the ground and goaled. It's not only about Instagram followers.

[adonski]

11 minutes ago, Deestroy All said:

Just waiting on the origins of BH’s name, if there are any acronyms, abbreviations or initialisms involved before I decide on whether or not he’s a good pick. 

Howe has Collingwood origins I know that much 

[adonski]

We view Howes as a wing/midfielder, from JT's draft wrap 

[adonski]

 

[Chook]

Jeez he looks good. 

Must be a solid draft if he's slipped this late.

EDIT: Or we're the only ones who know what we're doing (can't rule that out these days, given the recent turn of events…)

Edited November 25 by Chook

[DeezNuts]

Needs a haircut, but looks the goods!

[BAMF]

2 hours ago, Wizard of Koz said:

I am tipping he chases better than Bailey Smith or he wont getting a game. Watch the Langdon goal in the final quarter. Smith just pointed in deep defence and walked meekly as Langdon ran the length of the ground and goaled. It's not only about Instagram followers.

Lol!

I watched this part on repeat many times and grinned.

In the week leading up to the final Matthew Llyod said we would need to use Langdon to tag Bailey Smith as he was the only one who could keep up with him. It made me [censored] angry that the media had no [censored] idea.

Why the [censored] would we waste Langdon like that? Had he not seen the games this year where teams would switch the play to avoid Langdons wing? 

[layzie]

I'm staggered this guy dropped to 39. 191cm mobile mid/forward. Gunston mould, how many of these types are there? Would have locked him top 25 for sure. Stoked! 

[Fat Tony]

Looks a good pick up. Could be Fritsch II. Fits our needs pretty well and looks versatile. 

[Vitamin Dee]

HOWES THAAAAATTT!!??

Great get by the Dees!

Edited November 25 by Vitamin Dee
stuffed the image

[FarNorthernD]

In the phantom drafts Knightmare had Howes at 15, Twomey at 19, the Sporting News at 19 and The Age also had him at 19 stating “He is known for doing ‘extras’ at training and is strongly fancied by the premiers”

Blake completed his 2km time trial in 6.08 (elite) and also runs a sub 3 second 20m (elite). That combination is rare. He has great hands above his head and plays taller due to a above average vertical leap. 
The main knocks on him seem to be his contested ball abilities and not having a defined position. 
Perhaps he was overrated by the pundits but it does look like we got a bargain. 

[dazzledavey36]

Its so interesting reading some of the news out of the draft that Melbourne have pretty much had the steal of the draft with Howes.

I must admit, and i hope this doesn't come across the wrong way. But when i watch his highlights i get Jayden Laverde pre draft feels about him. Similar athletic players who are both tall and have great speed. Laverde really struggled at AFL level for a few years there and was close to being delisted. His found his niche now as a handy 3rd tall defender. I think that's why a part of me was stoked we picked JVR as our first pick instead of Howes because he was true Jason Taylor type pick, and also he filled an important need for us. I probably didn't warm to Howes instantly? 

I do know Howe was extremely highly rated in his under 16's year and made the All Australian team when playing for Vic Metro. Of every Phantom Draft i read, majority had him easily a pick inside the top 20. I think Cal Twomey mentioned that GWS  had serious considerations to select him at pick 13. Huge endorsement for Howes. Had there been a full season of the NAB there is every chance he could have snuck in around the top 12 pick due to his form playing as a winger.

The fact that Jason Taylor who is imo the best recruiter by far in the land has picked him Howes is enough for me! I'm stoked to have him on board now and hopefully this is a pick where clubs will look back and ponder why the hell he lasted to pick 39.

Welcome to the premiers Blake!

[John Demonic]

24 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Its so interesting reading some of the news out of the draft that Melbourne have pretty much had the steal of the draft with Howes

I tuned in as we were on the clock for pick 17 and Cal Twomey or Whoever the young expert was, thought we might have picked him up then. That he had slid to our later pick is fantastic then!

 

[John Demonic]

@dazzledavey36Although I think most clubs fans over on some forums, seem quite satisfied with obtaining players they initially wanted. Makes me wonder how much of the draft is secret handshakes between clubs sharing info on who they want, and who they will leave for other clubs. A fraternity of goodwill emerging. That's why we get trade and pick swaps done with no fuss. So we can actually form relationships that get us opportunities to trade up, and have the players we want still on the table.

Edited November 25 by John Demonic

[Demon17]

On 11/24/2021 at 4:15 PM, Whispering_Jack said:

 Blake Howes of the Sandringham Dragons is one of the players Melbourne and a few other clubs are keen on. He's 18 years of age, a 190cm, 79kg outside midfielder and wouldn't take long to fit into a regular spot, even in the premiership side.

Big call and looking forward to watching development . Thanks.

Brayshaw  Langdon....Howes?

[Demon17]

7 hours ago, BAMF said:

Lol!

I watched this part on repeat many times and grinned.

In the week leading up to the final Matthew Llyod said we would need to use Langdon to tag Bailey Smith as he was the only one who could keep up with him. It made me [censored] angry that the media had no [censored] idea.

Why the [censored] would we waste Langdon like that? Had he not seen the games this year where teams would switch the play to avoid Langdons wing? 

Great post on the Langdon v Smith issue.

How many times did we say during a game this year "who's playing on Langers???".

Apparently nobody often.

[Jontee]

9 hours ago, DeezNuts said:

Needs a haircut, but looks the goods!

Fritta will set him right.....

[Jontee]

11 hours ago, Deestroy All said:

Just waiting on the origins of BH’s name, if there are any acronyms, abbreviations or initialisms involved before I decide on whether or not he’s a good pick. 

I think we are in uncharted territory.....the first Blake to play for the Dees, I think....

[DeeSpencer]

I suspect he's got a fair bit of work to do on a lot of his game. Probably has to work on his pressure, contested ground balls, tackling etc and it looks like his kicking is hit or miss.

But I like the way he makes quick decisions from the mark, drawing opponents to hand off to runners or backing his kicking.

And his marking seems very natural. 

The wing has been a bit of a blindspot for JT, but Howes marking and athleticism both really suit the way the position is played these days. Show him Brayshaw's game in the grand  final and train him up to play like that.

[Jontee]

9 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

Show him Brayshaw's game in the grand  final and train him up to play like that.

In terms of kicking, can we aim higher?

[DeeSpencer]

7 minutes ago, Jontee said:

In terms of kicking, can we aim higher?

I'd just show him Gus' set shot and skip all the other hacked kicks.

[DeesFlag2020]

1 hour ago, Demon17 said:

Great post on the Langdon v Smith issue.

How many times did we say during a game this year "who's playing on Langers???".

Apparently nobody often.

His elite running ability eventually gets them every time. No-one has his endurance or commitment. Was a key part of our premiership….

[La Dee-vina Comedia]

1 hour ago, Jontee said:

In terms of kicking, can we aim higher?

I think this is a bit unfair. I think Brayshaw may be the best kick on his non-preferred side within the whole team. His right foot kicking could be better, but I've seen a lot worse.