Is he due for a role change? He could be our link up player coming our defence , we have been desperate for some good contested marking players.

Especially under Goodwin's era we'd often bail long to no one.

Side note , is Steven May any chance of being trialed as a Forward? Could he spend the summer training as a Forward what's to lose ??

POSITION: Medium Forward/Wing

SNAPSHOT: “A highly athletic forward with the capacity to play through further afield, Howes catches the eye with his highlight reel moments in the forward half.”

As an AFL Academy member, Vic Metro representative and Sandringham Dragons product, Blake Howes was able to impact across every level of football he played in 2021, showing off his impressive athleticism when given the opportunity. The 190cm talent was mostly played as a half-forward for the year, but was gradually afforded more opportunities up on the wing as the season went on, suggesting there is a fair amount of development left for him in that area of the ground. Having enjoyed his venture up the field, Howes is a prospect who can count himself particularly unlucky as the Victorian season was cut short just as he found his best form.

STRENGTHS:

+ Vertical Leap

+ Overhead Marking

+ Clean Hands

+ Athleticism

+ Upside

4 hours ago, Melonmonster said:

Side note , is Steven May any chance of being trialed as a Forward? Could he spend the summer training as a Forward what's to lose ??

have been wondering about putting Maysie up forward. We need to get games into Adam and Taylor now. If Petty is going back full time then it might make sense to give our new backline as many games as possible to gel.

2026 will see be another low finish but hopefully we can put the pieces in place for a better year in 2027.

The time for May up forward has well passed.

King will be building a team to compete for flags 27 onwards.

I doubt May will be there.

Time to look where we're going... nit where we are

Why has noone ever mentioned putting May up forward?!

It’s a lack of imagination that I, in the form of this post, through the medium of this forum, have to be the FIRST to bring up this idea, or thought bubble of you will.

Xavier Taylor would immediately take Howes spot in the backline

Play him on the wing or as a 3rd banana tall

Howes , imho, is going to be among a handful.of players on the endangered list.

Not that he can't play... but newer models are already on the showroom floor.

The competition for spots will become heightened.

Forget everything you've seen over the past seasons ( immediate) about team selection, placement, strategy, style.

This is a bran nu day !!!

All bets are off

Go Dees

Think Howes was one of those ‘it’s not working well enough here, let’s try him down back’

Personally, not overly confident he can break the ceilings set by his teammates for a spot anywhere in the starting team.

New voices coaching him, his attributes might be better utilised. Hope you have a great summer Blake!

10 minutes ago, The end is nigh said:

Think Howes was one of those ‘it’s not working well enough here, let’s try him down back’

Personally, not overly confident he can break the ceilings set by his teammates for a spot anywhere in the starting team.

New voices coaching him, his attributes might be better utilised. Hope you have a great summer Blake!

I suspect Howes will one of quite a few who will be totally re-evaluated. Whilst some fd folk are still around from previous regime the new lot have new ideas and different requirements. They're no bunnies. Some roles will remain essentially the same... a new slant on the game plan/style will throw up a different criteria. It could well be some players who could quite fit the old way well might blossom in the new. Conversely some will become Casey stalwarts ....

Best footy I’ve seen him play for us was in his first year at Casey on a wing, was pressing to debut (in a very strong side in 2022) but went down with a long term injury. Moved to defence when we brought in Lachie Hunter (good one 🤦‍♂️) and just doesn’t look like it. Wing / half forward in 2026 hopefully.

47 minutes ago, rpfc said:

Why has noone ever mentioned putting May up forward?!

It’s a lack of imagination that I, in the form of this post, through the medium of this forum, have to be the FIRST to bring up this idea, or thought bubble of you will.

Put him in the midfield. That will put a new meaning to big bodied midfielders

Just now, Greg Schneider said:

Best footy I’ve seen him play for us was in his first year at Casey on a wing, was pressing to debut (in a very strong side in 2022) but went down with a long term injury. Moved to defence when we brought in Lachie Hunter (good one 🤦‍♂️) and just doesn’t look like it. Wing / half forward in 2026 hopefully.

That Lachie Hunter trade was one of the worst things our club has done post flag. Ruined Clarry, introduced an attitude of laziness, changed the cohesion of the team.

1 minute ago, D Rev said:

That Lachie Hunter trade was one of the worst things our club has done post flag. Ruined Clarry, introduced an attitude of laziness, changed the cohesion of the team.

And that’s just off-field. It was clear wingman of his type were a dying breed when we brought him in, the game was transitioning and we brought in a plodder who couldn’t kick it further than 30 metres, the eye of our recruiting team 🤦‍♂️

13 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

I suspect Howes will one of quite a few who will be totally re-evaluated.

I think you're right on the money here.

It's going to be an interesting watch with a few surprises ahead.

I hope Howes can make it as he could offer something really interesting to the mix.

11 minutes ago, Greg Schneider said:

Best footy I’ve seen him play for us was in his first year at Casey on a wing, was pressing to debut (in a very strong side in 2022) but went down with a long term injury. Moved to defence when we brought in Lachie Hunter (good one 🤦‍♂️) and just doesn’t look like it. Wing / half forward in 2026 hopefully.

Did get a call up and then got injured before he could debut.

10 minutes ago, D Rev said:

That Lachie Hunter trade was one of the worst things our club has done post flag. Ruined Clarry, introduced an attitude of laziness, changed the cohesion of the team.

It also pushed James Jordon out of the wing that he made his own in 2022.

Shocking decision and a am led to believe some senior leaders were against the recruitment as well.

14 minutes ago, Greg Schneider said:

Best footy I’ve seen him play for us was in his first year at Casey on a wing, was pressing to debut (in a very strong side in 2022) but went down with a long term injury. Moved to defence when we brought in Lachie Hunter (good one 🤦‍♂️) and just doesn’t look like it. Wing / half forward in 2026 hopefully.

Exactly. He was playing underage footy across half forward and wing as a skilled marking runner. Kicked some very classy goals. Was looking good at Casey in 2022 before injury ended his year. When the midfield was assessed, he was changed to the backline group as an interception type backman to play on the 3rd tall/medium forward. He’s done okay but his natural self in my view is across half forward. He might get a different look under King.

4 minutes ago, Adam The God said:

Did get a call up and then got injured before he could debut.

What? Are you calling being in the emergencies a call up? A debut was never announced, not sure what you mean

15 minutes ago, D Rev said:

That Lachie Hunter trade was one of the worst things our club has done post flag. Ruined Clarry, introduced an attitude of laziness, changed the cohesion of the team.

Not sure about Oliver, but agree it was a very strange decision. The fact he so comfortably got games on the wing was the first sign to me our list was nowhere near as good as we thought it was post-premiership.

I like the idea of rotating players through the wings, especially younger players or players like Howe, who haven't quite made their usual position their own.

Yes, wing-half forward said the broken record in the corner...

Personally I think missing out on Nairn wouldn't matter, this role is what I saw for Howes initially. 

11 minutes ago, Greg Schneider said:

What? Are you calling being in the emergencies a call up? A debut was never announced, not sure what you mean

A meeting with Goody, then got injured that week.