Howard

[CURLY]

Both he and King have the toughest roles in the side. Howard has to not only defend his direct opponent but has to peel off and support smaller team mates. He’s a easy target to those that have no concept of a team defence. Howard is and continues to be be one of the best key position defenders in tge AFL.

[Wayne42]

Ratts said Battle was our best defender tonight ?

No mention of Howard.

[The_Dud]

Howard is our 4th best tall defender behind Wilkie, Battle and Membrey.

And Highmore hasn’t got a run this year yet so there’s still room to move…

[Wayne42]

If Membrey is one of our best defenders then we do need to play Sharman, even if they have issues with his game.

Membrey is not the forward he was in years gone by, why is that, he's only 28.

[The_Dud]

The fact Ratts feels like he has to throw Membrey back midway thru the 2nd quarter says all you need to know about our defence.

[IluvHarvey]

This guy?

[bangaulegend]

Ratts said Battle was our best defenderr tonight ?

No mention of Howard.

Battle was good but the ball was down his end for longer than it should have been & if we had 18 blokes giving their all he shouldn't have had such a good game

[SaintPav]

Howard was ordinary but can’t put all the blame on him.

Team defence was insipid from the first minute of the game.

I’m so disgusted with that performance.

[CURLY]

Ratts said Battle was our best defender tonight ?

No mention of Howard.

And?

[Wayne42]

Ratts said Battle was our best defender tonight ?

No mention of Howard.

And?

And no mention of the umpires

[CURLY]

The fact Ratts feels like he has to throw Membrey back midway thru the 2nd quarter says all you need to know about our defence.

Nothing to do with our midfield Dud?

[CURLY]

Ratts said Battle was our best defender tonight ?

No mention of Howard.

And?

And no mention of the umpires

What about them

[Wayne42]

Ratts said Battle was our best defender tonight ?

No mention of Howard.

And?

And no mention of the umpires

What about them

[The_Dud]

The fact Ratts feels like he has to throw Membrey back midway thru the 2nd quarter says all you need to know about our defence.

Nothing to do with our midfield Dud?

Our midfield is ordinary, but you would think the 3 talls we have in defence already would be able to take the mighty Essendon forward line…

Oh, and Wright hadn’t kicked a goal since round 9, so fair play to Howard having to deal with a bloke in top form…

[CURLY]

The fact Ratts feels like he has to throw Membrey back midway thru the 2nd quarter says all you need to know about our defence.

Nothing to do with our midfield Dud?

Our midfield is ordinary, but you would think the 3 talls we have in defence already would be able to take the mighty Essendon forward line…

Oh, and Wright hadn’t kicked a goal since round 9, so fair play to Howard having to deal with a bloke in top form…

Look I know you don’t understand his role and he’s your target.

[SaintDippa]

Before last night our defence was ranked #3.
All season Howard, Battle, Wilkie, Webster (jury out on Patton) have stood up most probably due to a shroud line coach.
This group were not the problem last night.

[The_Dud]

The fact Ratts feels like he has to throw Membrey back midway thru the 2nd quarter says all you need to know about our defence.

Nothing to do with our midfield Dud?

Our midfield is ordinary, but you would think the 3 talls we have in defence already would be able to take the mighty Essendon forward line…

Oh, and Wright hadn’t kicked a goal since round 9, so fair play to Howard having to deal with a bloke in top form…

Look I know you don’t understand his role and he’s your target.

Again, isn’t his role to defend?

His man had the most goals, goal assists and score involvement for the game. This is the same bloke who hasn’t kicked a goal since round 9.

It was so bad they had to move Membrey back.

[perfectionist]

Howard's a duck.

[Gershwin]

The fact Ratts feels like he has to throw Membrey back midway thru the 2nd quarter says all you need to know about our defence.

Nothing to do with our midfield Dud?

Our midfield is ordinary, but you would think the 3 talls we have in defence already would be able to take the mighty Essendon forward line…

Oh, and Wright hadn’t kicked a goal since round 9, so fair play to Howard having to deal with a bloke in top form…

Look I know you don’t understand his role and he’s your target.

Again, isn’t his role to defend?

His man had the most goals, goal assists and score involvement for the game. This is the same bloke who hasn’t kicked a goal since round 9.

It was so bad they had to move Membrey back.

His man has never been fed the ball on a silver platter like that before. Think a bit deeper than you are and you will get more out of the game.

[thefatdork]

Whilst I don’t think it was Howard’s best game, it was tough going for our defence last night and (sadly) Membery had to go back to try and stem the flow.
Our mids and forwards just let the Bombers run free - once the bal started coming out then they had free players running all over with options galore. Very tough to defend that when there are so many free players running down.
We really need to stop bombing into the forward line so muck - gosh I’ve said that so many times in the last decade but it just keeps happening and you’d reckon we would have worked out it doesn’t work.
When we came back in the 3rd we were winning it out of the centre and had players running free - then we stopped, went back to the crap we were delivering in the first half and they started running free again and winning the ball at stoppages.
So……can’t blame the backline as it’s hard to stop a swarming horde.

[Gershwin]

Whilst I don’t think it was Howard’s best game, it was tough going for our defence last night and (sadly) Membery had to go back to try and stem the flow.
Our mids and forwards just let the Bombers run free - once the bal started coming out then they had free players running all over with options galore. Very tough to defend that when there are so many free players running down.
We really need to stop bombing into the forward line so muck - gosh I’ve said that so many times in the last decade but it just keeps happening and you’d reckon we would have worked out it doesn’t work.
When we came back in the 3rd we were winning it out of the centre and had players running free - then we stopped, went back to the crap we were delivering in the first half and they started running free again and winning the ball at stoppages.
So……can’t blame the backline as it’s hard to stop a swarming horde.

If I remember correctly, Marshall was rucking during our resurgence. Ryder wasn’t particularly effective last night and I wonder if he is cooked - for this season and his career.

[The_Dud]

Yep, our midfield is poor without Steele which doesn’t help our backline.

But…

That means for Howard, as a ‘leader’ in the backline…

Don’t constantly zone off your direct opponent leaving him open

Don’t constantly trail your opponent to contests

Don’t stay down while your opponent flys for marks in pack situations

Don’t shake your head and point your finger at your teammate after the ball flys over your head for another goal that your opponent dished off to their teammate


He needs to watch Wilkie’s tape, who is a much better defender.

[Scollop]

Whilst I don’t think it was Howard’s best game, it was tough going for our defence last night and (sadly) Membery had to go back to try and stem the flow.
Our mids and forwards just let the Bombers run free - once the bal started coming out then they had free players running all over with options galore. Very tough to defend that when there are so many free players running down.
We really need to stop bombing into the forward line so muck - gosh I’ve said that so many times in the last decade mbut it just keeps happening and you’d reckon we would have worked out it doesn’t work.
When we came back in the 3rd we were winning it out of the centre and had players running free - then we stopped, went back to the crap we were delivering in the first half and they started running free again and winning the ball at stoppages.
So……can’t blame the backline as it’s hard to stop a swarming horde.

If I remember correctly, Marshall was rucking during our resurgence. Ryder wasn’t particularly effective last night and I wonder if he is cooked - for this season and his career.

Ryder is far from cooked. The midfielders need to lift their game. Remember his effort against the Cats….and in particular the ruckwork with that tap to Billings to ice the game

[D.B.Cooper]

I like Howard and think he leads the team defense well.
The defenders have been very good this season.

However Essendon went to Howard’s man regularly obviously knowing he much he zones off.

As an on field leader I would have thought he’d have adjusted and played a more man on man role when Wright was right on top.

[Impatient Sainter]

Howard has played 1 decent game all year. He refuses to attempt to go with his opponent, taking the soft option of dropping off an expecting his team mates to cover for him. He has become the 'great pointer' ala Goddard f....n lazy. He needs a rest/reset and bring in Highmore for some games.