Howard to debut in front of home crowd
By Bronte Kerr
Making the transition from junior footy to the senior elite level of AFL is no easy feat.
Many of the game’s greats have reflected on their debut game as a daunting and nerve-racking experience.
Port Adelaide young gun Dougal Howard will have the added comfort of a crowd of familiar faces when he makes his AFL debut against Richmond on Saturday afternoon.
Hailing from Northern NSW, Howard would have laughed if someone was to have told him a year ago that he would be making his AFL debut for Port Adelaide, let alone in the familiar city of Albury.
Growing up in Wagga NSW, Howard moved to Albury in 2014 where he attended university and played footy with TAC Cup team Murray Bushrangers.
A product of the GWS Giants Academy, Howard averaged seven touches, four marks and one goal over three games during the NAB AFL Under- 18 Championships for NSW/ ACT.
Howard is best known for his vertical leap and boasts impressive speed for his build.
Expectations are high for the key forward who is looked upon by some as a long term successor to long-time spearhead Jay Schulz.
Port Adelaide national recruiting manager Geoff Parker spoke of Howard’s future as a key forward for the side.
“He’s played forward and back during the year, but we see him as a key forward who can go in the ruck and provide relief in the ruck,” Parker told portadelaidefc.com.au after the 2014 draft.
A determined Howard sat down with Matt Malone from the Daily Advertiser late last year to discuss his goals ahead of the 2015 Premiership season.
“Now I’ve got the opportunity, I want to show I’m up for the task and what I can do and get some game time,” Howard said.
“At the moment, I just want to get fit, stay fit, string together some good games and show what I can do.”
Young gun Dougal Howard will return home for his AFL debut, Image: The Border Mail
The game on Saturday evening represents a golden opportunity for Port Adelaide’s new recruits to prove their worth ahead of the 2015 season.
In previous years, a consistent performance throughout the NAB Challenge series has been the deciding factor for Round 1 selection.
Port Adelaide will field a relatively inexperienced side when they take on the Tigers, with Sam Russell, Jesse Palmer and Johann Wagner also set to make their first appearance at the senior level.
The visitors will go without many of their key players, with Travis Boak, Brad Ebert, Kane Cornes and Jay Schulz all set to miss tomorrow evening’s game.
Port Adelaide Squad
2. Kane Mitchell
3. Jake Neade
5. Matthew Broadbent
11. John Butcher
13. Cameron O’Shea
14. Paul Stewart
15. Karl Amon
16. Oliver Wines
17. Tom Clurey
19. Matt White
21. Jared Polec
23. Matthew Lobbe
24. Jarman Impey
26. Andrew Moore
29. Jasper Pittard
31. Mitchell Harvey
32. Dougal Howard
33. Darcy-Byrne Jones
34. Jarrad Redden
36. Jack Hombsch
37. Jesse Palmer
40. Aaron Young
41. Brendon Ah Chee
42. Tom Jonas
43. Johann Wagner
44. Tom Logan
46. Sam Gray
47. Sam Russell
48. Nathan Krakouer
In: Polec, Broadbent, Hombsch, Russell, Logan, Wagner, Palmer, Redden, Byrne-Jones, Howard, Harvey
Out: Boak, Ebert, Hartlett, Gray, Cornes, Carlile, Schulz, Westhoff
Details
What: Port Adelaide vs. Richmond Tigers
When: 4:40pm, Saturday 14th March
Where: Lavington Sports Ground, Albury, NSW
Ticketing:
Main Image courtesy of AFL Media
