Despite differing opinion, the numbers say in-demand Port Adelaide swingman Dougal Howard is more influential in defence
He’s a 200cm athletic big man who can run like the wind but he’s yet to find his best position and spent the last month of the season in the SANFL. So what’s Dougal Howard worth at the trade table?
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Port Adelaide’s Dougal Howard is dividing opinion.
After the 23-year-old utility nominated the Saints as his preferred new home if a move from Alberton eventuated, the debate about his worth has intensified.
The view on how the 200cm big man is best utilised differs, too, depending on who you ask.
With co-captain Tom Jonas and Tom Clurey the key pillars in defence, the Power’s preference is to play Howard as a permanent forward and it’s understood it’s a decision he was disappointed with.
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Port Adelaide Magpies’ triple-premiership captain Tim Ginever believe Howard “should be used as the perfect swingman”.
“How hard is it to get a 200cm player who can run fast, jump high, play back, forward and pinch-hit in the ruck?” Ginever questioned.
“How many of them are in the comp? I’m telling you, there’s not too many. Dougal is way too valuable.”
Saints football boss Simon Lethlean agrees.
“If Dougal wants to come to the Saints, he fits in as a key position – whether that’s back or forward,” Lethlean said earlier this week.
“He can probably play as a swingman as well, so he’d fit nicely with (Jake) Carlisle, (Max) King and others. He’s a pretty impressive player and kid.”
But the numbers say Howard’s greatest influence during his 45-game career has come as a defender.
In 2018, Howard established himself in the Power side, recording 216 spoils - the most in the competition.
The athletic Howard, who boasts terrific speed, was overlooked for senior selection in the opening two rounds of 2019, however, before winning back his place in defence for the clash with the Lions at the Gabba.
Between Round 3 and Round 10, when he played 91 per cent of game-time in defence, Howard rated elite for spoils (10) and above average for intercept possessions (6.8) and intercept marks (2.6) as a key-defender.
In the Round 6 win over North Melbourne, Howard tallied 12 disposals – 11 of them effective – 11 spoils and five intercept marks.
It followed his 20-disposal, eight-intercept performance, which earned him two coaches’ votes, in the upset victory over the Eagles a week earlier.
Late in the Round 10 loss to the Hawks, Howard, who tallied six spoils and four intercepts marks in defence, was switched into attack in a last-gasp effort by Hinkley, whose side trailed by 22 points at the final change.
And, with the return of Jonas to Port’s defence a week later, it’s where Howard played out the rest of the 2019 season in the senior team.
Spending 82 per cent of game-time as forward in the next eight matches, Howard rated below-average for disposals, marks, marks inside-50, score involvements and goals as a key-forward.
Despite glimpses, Howard failed to have an impact in front of goal and was sent back to the SANFL for the final month of the year.
“I completely disagree with their desire to play him as a forward.” 300-game Power midfielder Kane Cornes said on AFL Trade Radio this week.
And a majority of Port Adelaide fans, who were surprised at Howard’s omission last year, share Cornes’ frustration and there’s been an outcry on social media surrounding the potential defection.
But there’s also an argument that, despite Howard’s obvious potential and athletic traits, he’s yet to find his best position and his value should be tested on the open market.
Port’s football manager Chris Davies said Howard is “a highly valued, required player at Port Adelaide” and the club “will only entertain a trade if it is in our best interests to do so.”
So what would the Saints need to offer to make the Power listen?
After trading it’s No. 6 selection to the Giants for picks 12 and 18, as it stands on Thursday, St Kilda hold picks 12, 18, 59, 76 and 82.
Despite the pick-swap, which gives list manager James Gallagher more options at the trade table, it still might not be a draft hand which will satisfy those Alberton, given the first selection - and maybe the second - is set to be involved in the deal to bring Bradley Hill across from Fremantle.
Then there’s Paddy Ryder and Zak Jones, who have also expressed their desire to get to Moorabbin in this exchange period.
The departures of midfielder Jack Steven (Geelong) and Josh Bruce (Western Bulldogs), if their heavily-reported moves eventuate, will help but Gallagher and Lethlean still have work to do.
On the first day of trade period, Lethlean said the Bulldogs’ offer of pick No. 32 for Bruce wasn’t enough.
“Right here right now, I don’t feel like pick 32 is appropriate for our biggest key forward who has got a year to go on his contract,” he said.
Lethlean, however, did note it might help the club in pursuit of its trade targets.
Reports suggest the Saints want pick No. 24 from the Cats for Steven but Geelong would prefer the deal to involve No. 34 or 37 – all three picks acquired in the Tim Kelly deal.
And that range – 24 to 32 - appears around the mark for Howard.
Despite his obvious potential and the fact he captained the side in the abscense of Jonas and Ollie Wines in Round 9, he’s still a player who finished the year in the state league.
Port might ask for a first-round pick, maybe No. 18 if St Kilda give in to Fremantle’s demands and include it’s 2020 first-round selection instead.
And some would argue rightly so given what he might become.
But a deal to secure an early-second-round pick, if the Saints get their way with the Cats - or split of their two top-20 picks again - would be great business.
As would a future second-round selection from St Kilda.
Is this Hamish Hartlett all over again or will the Power take the risk and cash-in on a young, unestablished player, who might one day come back to hurt them?