Narre Warren’s Will Howe moved from full back to full forward and hasn’t looked back

From a role playing full back one game to terrorising them the next; how Narre Warren unearthed Will Howe.

It was a magnet shift that has paid dividends.

An injury in Round 1 of 2022 forced Narre Warren coach Shane Dwyer to slide promising tall Will Howe from full back to full forward.

The decision looked ingenious when Howe kicked 68 majors from his next 17 games in a premiership year and has continued in that trend with the young star seemingly taking his game to another level in 2023.

Howe added 11 to his tally on Saturday in the Magpies’ commanding 26.14 (170) to 3.7 (25) win over Olinda Ferny Creek, taking his career total to 88 from just 26 games.

Building on what was a superb first full season of senior footy, Dwyer said his young full forward learned a lot from some bigger bodies in the off-season.

“Yeah we played him at full back, we had a lot to do with him in the under-19s but I can’t remember where they played him at the Stingrays,” he said.

“He can be a good back but he is a much better forward, he just has a really good pair of hands.

“We played some really good sides in our practice games where he got to experience a bit of a better level.

“We played Cranbourne who have got a really, really, seriously good full back – their captain – (Brandon) Osborne.

“And Norwood, who had a different size player on him, he got to get a look at that and I think that’s probably helped him a bit.”

Will Howe. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Shane Dwyer. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Howe has played just three matches this year - for a sum of 20 goals – after injuring his hamstring earlier in Round 1.

His Saturday return, according to Dwyer, could’ve been bigger

“He tweaked a hammy in the last quarter of Round 1, he missed two and then we had a bye,” he said.

“He played three quarters last week, we tried to look after him a bit, but yeah on the weekend, they (Olinda Ferny Creek) gave him a lot of room and space.

“We actually played really well, it’s the best we’ve played all year, we kicked it really well and he got on the end of it.

“He kicked really well as well, I think he only kicked two behinds by memory and he gave a few off as well, so he could’ve had a huge day.

“He is young, carefree bloke that enjoys playing footy with his mates – he has a lot of talent.”Elsewhere

Elsewhere in Outer East, Gembrook Cockatoo defeated Woori Yallock 11.11 (77) to 10.14 (74), Wandin defeated Pakenham 13.18 (96) to 6.9 (45) and Monbulk defeated Mt Evelyn 11.8 (74) to 8.16 (64).