Dougal Howard

[B.M]

Thinks he’s fkn David Dench!

Any danger of him ever being on his opponents shoulder, especially when he’s playing deep on the last line.

He seriously overrates himself, the fact he runs to take the kick ins when he’s a s*** kick!

Young Thilthorpe is a ripper, you see, young key forwards can be match winners

[CURLY]

Wish our young key forward got gifts from the umpires like Thilthorp got. One of the most embarrassing frees you’ll see.

[B.M]

The last play, why was Howard zoning off a player at the top of the goal square?

He is the King of Zoning off!!!

[The_Dud]

Seems like a dumb footballer, and always trying to blame others

[The Barometer]

Thinks he’s fkn David Dench!

Any danger of him ever being on his opponents shoulder, especially when he’s playing deep on the last line.

He seriously overrates himself, the fact he runs to take the kick ins when he’s a s*** kick!

Young Thilthorpe is a ripper, you see, young key forwards can be match winners

There was a kick in in the last quarter, Brad Hill was next to him and looked like he was wanting to take the kick. We needed something different but Howard ignored him and hoofed another one down the line.

[SaintPav]

Depressing.

[Impatient Sainter]

He was under the pump in the 2nd half but he was one of many that made stupid pannicked decisions. We seriously need a clean out of fitness staff and assistant coaches at seasons end!

[SaintJohn1956]

When he was taking those kick ins - why didnt someone run to the other side of the ground - the whole right side looked to be free. Everybody just crowded on one side.

[Teflon]

What a shyte thread
Howard and defence did all they could tonight
Under utter siege from midway through the second quarter - no defence stands up to that relentless ball coming in time and again
Bigger questions need to be asked than simply looking at Howard and going “gee Tilthorpe looked good” (clearly gifted a goal late from an incompetent umpire and that free ought to be reviewed but won’t be).
That aside ....
Why was our midfield second to the ball the complete second half?????
Why when we did manage to finally fumble a ball into our forward 50 was there no forwards there...just 2 Crow defenders????
Why the **** was Battle on a wing .....while Coffield (a defender) left to look lost in forward line???? (last weeks experiment was Highmore in forward line.....surely the brain dead twits realise now he’s a defender????)
Why is Howard taking kick ins - especially when exhausted ...,why not Hill who is a renowned kick???
Sorry, just lazy picking out Howard who I thought was one of our best ...

[magnifisaint]

Abysmal free to Thilthorpe. That lost the game for St Kilda. Absolutely shocking

[B.M]

Piss off Teflon

I’ve seen wingers play closer to their opponent than Dougal

Sits 25m behind them, hopes for a pressure kick forward so he can take an uncontested mark

Takes a lot of uncontested (intercept) marks doesn’t

Who is actually on his opponent when he takes these marks??

Strange for a number 1 key defender (in old terms a full back), playing on the most dangerous key forward to be 20m on his own when the opposition are kicking the ball inside 50???

The only one on ones I saw him in tonight, he was schooled by a kid playing his 7th game

[Teflon]

Piss off Teflon

I’ve seen wingers play closer to their opponent than Dougal

Sits 25m behind them, hopes for a pressure kick forward so he can take an uncontested mark

Takes a lot of uncontested (intercept) marks doesn’t

Who is actually on his opponent when he takes these marks??

Strange for a number 1 key defender (in old terms a full back), playing on the most dangerous key forward to be 20m on his own when the opposition are kicking the ball inside 50???

The only one on ones I saw him in tonight, he was schooled by a kid playing his 7th game

Careful god some of the students read this site to hear your commandments
Doug’s was ok tonight under heavy duress
Stop making up tripe

[B.M]

Some of THE students???

What the hell does that mean??? Make sense if you can?!

And God

That’s funny to you? It’s ridiculous, something a moron would think is funny… or are you trying to denigrate me to hurt my feelings???

Sorry to tell you, little wisecracks on a fan forum are not really concerning

And Dougs OK?

He played on a first year player whose played 7 games, was beaten in one on ones and lead to the ball.

But from his point of view, it was the fault of others. Maybe he should try and defend first?!

[WellardSaint]

Piss off Teflon

I’ve seen wingers play closer to their opponent than Dougal

Sits 25m behind them, hopes for a pressure kick forward so he can take an uncontested mark

Takes a lot of uncontested (intercept) marks doesn’t

Who is actually on his opponent when he takes these marks??

Strange for a number 1 key defender (in old terms a full back), playing on the most dangerous key forward to be 20m on his own when the opposition are kicking the ball inside 50???

The only one on ones I saw him in tonight, he was schooled by a kid playing his 7th game

100%.
He's over-rated by a lot of fanbois. IMHO
He gives far too much distance to his opponent, then when they mark it, he yells at everyone. WHY

I have said this before several times.
The marks that he takes over the back, behind the pack, is a tactic practiced ad nauseam in training, by just about every footy team, all the way down to Port Fairy Seagulls (hi to Shane Savage)

Wilkie and Coff (or whoever is adjacent) nudge the pack under the ball using body pressure.
I always notice Wilkie right afterwards.
It's not really hard, just have to not make it obvious, constant practice gets the timing right.

Howard doesn't have any real stand-out skills.
His kick-ins are horrendous.
Always have been

[cwrcyn]

Howard is a fine player and we'd be stuffed without him. I can't believe the vitriol dished at him by some on here. Our backline has been under siege in numerous games this year and Howard has been very good under the circumstances. People are pissed off because a 19 year old took a couple of marks on him. If you look that last last play that resulted in the goal, it was Ryder's kick that ricocheted off the back of an opponent that landed in Tilthorpe's arms. Just one of those lucky things that happens sometimes. The real issue is not Howard, but our slow midfield and our lack of fitness. If you're looking for a scapegoat, you've picked the wrong guy.

[spert]

Who would want to be a Saints backman with such a crap midfield which has no concept of defence

[desertsaint]

Had a good game. He and Wilkie kept us in it til the end. A few errors sure, but on balance well and truly ahead of the ledger. Seriously mystified at those finger pointing at individual players to blame, and pointing at Howard? We all have opinions but some on here think far more highly of their opinion than they have any right to.

[B.M]

Why’d he play well?

Incontested marks?? Why does he take them???

Prefer spoils

[stkfc1]

Howard the least of our problems. Our midfield is inept and has no defensive side and our forwards can't kick straight.

And we're still playing Lonie, Long and Dunstan who aren't up to it.

Lots of players down on confidence. Butler, Battle, Coffield are shadows of last year.

[SaintDippa]

I would hold off having a crack at Howard and the playing group until a proper coach arrives. Would have preferred Ratts spent more time on structures and ball movement into an open F50 rather than spending most of the evening catching up on this week's episode of Handmade's Tale on his laptop.

[B.M]

How do you judge a midfields defensive side?

Looking at the tackle numbers, they were off the charts for our Mids!

Getting first hands on footy was the issue in the last quarter!

And our forwards providing an outlet, we couldn’t stop the re entries for them. It was coming out and going straight back in, they had about 12 I50s in a row at one point

Where was the ability halve a mid ground exit
Where was the run from behind rebound

Ball was just getting chunked out, and turned over

On Howard
My only gripe with him, is his ability and want to defend!
He likes to zone off and pick off easy intercept marks

I’d prefer him to beat his man first

[Teflon]

Some of THE students???

What the hell does that mean??? Make sense if you can?!

And God

That’s funny to you? It’s ridiculous, something a moron would think is funny… or are you trying to denigrate me to hurt my feelings???

Sorry to tell you, little wisecracks on a fan forum are not really concerning

And Dougs OK?

He played on a first year player whose played 7 games, was beaten in one on ones and lead to the ball.

But from his point of view, it was the fault of others. Maybe he should try and defend first?!

Hurt the feelings of god??????? Never!
Just keep spewing out trash AFTER the fact
Howard is a fine intercept player whose being asked to do it all in a backline under siege CAUSE OUR MIDFIELD decided to be second to the ball and stop contesting
Go read what the coach said and stop your simplistic analysis and whining it’s boring to all

[Teflon]

Had a good game. He and Wilkie kept us in it til the end. A few errors sure, but on balance well and truly ahead of the ledger. Seriously mystified at those finger pointing at individual players to blame, and pointing at Howard? We all have opinions but some on here think far more highly of their opinion than they have any right to.

Great post
Some dumb football watchers here I must say
Howard’s our problem???????
The ball was in their forward line for a **** hour and that’s Howard’s fault ???????
Mind boggling

[B.M]

Who kicked the winning goal and why did it happen

Howard was 10m off Thilthorpe, the ball ricocheted to him and he kicked a goal

Howard defending his man first, he tackles Thilthorpe when he takes possession

From what I saw, Thilthorpe kicked 3 goals out of 9

Beat him one out for one
Free kick on the line for another
Loose at the top of the square at stoppage for the winner

This from an 18yo 7 gamer

[CQ SAINT]

You and the umpire missed Thilthorpe grabbing and slinging Howard before the mark was awarded.
The free one on the line was an absolute joke and the last one was absolute luck.
Howard takes the game on, occasionally that costs you.