Players who have become keys for Richmond and Collingwood, according to Dermott Brereton

PLAYERS are often brought to a club with a specific purpose in mind. DERMOTT BRERETON writes that purpose doesn’t always come to fruition — and sometimes that can be a very good thing.

Nathan Buckley has transformed Jeremy Howe. Pic: Getty Images

SOMETIMES players are brought to a club and contracted with a view to helping out their new team in a specific playing role.

A role that the club has identified themselves as an area that requires a bit of assistance and bolstering.

Or the club may have even decided that the new player has the capabilities to elevate himself and his career with a fresh opportunity in a new position.

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But it doesn’t always work out that way and the player has had to adapt to something totally different.

These types of scenarios usually see the player fall by the wayside with his career in tatters, but in some cases with a little bit of ingenuity and a slice of luck, the player turns into a gun and becomes an accidental hero.

JEREMY HOWE

When Collingwood pursued the enigmatic Melbourne forward he had just one really good trick, overhead marking.

The Magpies thought they could turn him from a spasmodic marking forward into a Jack Gunston clone — a player that could run up and down the wing out-marking his opponents and then when he got a really favourable matchup, he could drag the lesser player into Collingwoods forward line, out mark him and score goals.

But his work rate as a forward was not at the level required and he was redeployed to the backline where he became one of the games best intercept marking players and the rest is history.

Collingwood's Jeremy Howe celebrates with fellow second-club star Will Hoskin-Elliott. Picture: Phil Hillyard

JOSH CADDY

The Gold Coast youngster went home to Geelong, and then eventually got traded to Richmond.

The Tigers thought they were getting a big bodied midfielder that could be extra insurance coverage in the middle if Trent Cotchin or Dusty Martin struggled to get out there for whatever reason.

Maybe Caddy was even viewed as a competent second string inside mid that could take some punishment and deal it out as well.

But along the way it was found that if the ball exited the area in the middle too quickly, his opponents would more often than not beat him to the next play with leg speed.

And that is something a coach simply cannot let happen on a regular basis.

He was almost pushed into the forward line with the feeling that he could only go back into the middle if Richmond were under fire and in dire circumstances.

But no one thought that he was going to become a second tall forward that could take some towering overhead pack marks and create scores. Add to that, he loves body contact and bruising the opposition.

He is not unique as an overhead marking, pressure forward, but he is certainly very, very good. In fact, 46 goals good.

Josh Caddy left Geelong in search of greater midfield time. He hasn’t got that, but he does have a premiership. Pic: Michael Klein

WILL HOSKIN-ELLIOTT

At the Giants Wilbur was a sleek running machine who could seriously run and break through the lines while playing as an outside midfielder.

Up and down the field he could travel at real good speed and he was a pretty good kick as well.

Sometimes he could drift forward as the last man to arrive on the scene when a long kick would come “in” and he could sit on people’s heads and take a screamer.

But by and large it was assumed that his excessively light frame could not really start as a forward, lead to the ball and stand up under the physical pressure that a backman might collapse into him with when guarding or spoiling him.

So we all thought he would be used as a mobile mid that might be able to run through the lines and take the odd pot shot at goal while on the run.

In reality what he has become is something similar to Richmond’s small forward running fleet of Rioli, Butler and Castagna from 2017.

Working in tandem with Jaidyn Stephenson and Josh Thomas, he has become a fast and agile pressure player that puts enormous strain on his opposition to be able to run with him on fast bursts and plays that require stamina.

He has shown great goal sense and forward craft with 41 goals.

Rising star winner Stephenson has 35 goals this season to compliment Wilbur. And Thomas has also come to the party with 38 majors himself.

David Astbury was a key forward. Now he’s one of the game’s best defenders. Pic: Getty Images

DAVID ASTBURY

The Tigers thought that they had drafted a key forward from country Victoria in 2009.

A 196cm forward that could take a towering overhead mark.

So convinced were they that they thought he could partner up with Jack Riewoldt to become the two key forwards to take them forward, they bestowed former goal kicking champion forward Matthew Richardson’s famed No.12 guernsey upon him.

But injuries hurt his progress quite dramatically.

And to be honest, other clubs could not understand the Tigers’ patience.

As a forward I thought he was slow to read the cue’s on when to take off on the lead, where to actually run to.

And he didn’t seem to have the explosiveness required to be a viable key forward target.

But like many other failed forwards, he was tried down back.

It also took a while down there to happen, but when his body eventually gave him some continuity, he grew into the key defensive role.

His prowess now allows Alex Rance to play the way that Rance likes best and is of best advantage to the team.

Without Astbury there, Rance must become a lock down player, not a troubleshooter who peels off and assists every hot spot that appears in the Tigers backline.