Toast Congratulations Verdun Howell - 2016 Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee

[Jack Stevens]

1959 Brownlow Medalist

1966 premiership vice-captain

St Kilda Team of the Century full back

I'm far too young to have ever seen him play, but grew up in awe that someone could have such a good sounding name. I'm sure you old codgers can fill us in on his playing ability

An outstanding achievement to be recognised as one of the all times greats of our game, congratulations Verdun!

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/event-news/hall-of-fame/2016/verdun-howell

Nice interview with Neil Roberts and some pretty cool highlights of Verdun back in the 60's.

Sells some pretty amazing candy at 1:50.

 

[dct66]

Brilliant! Another Saints champ into the HoF!

 

[Dopey BJ]

Verdun Howell has been inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to his family and friends

 

[Kildonan]

VERDUN Howell goes into the Australian Football Hall of Fame as one of the great full-backs in League history. His attacking flair from the last line of defence was unconventional at the time, but made him an instant star.

But it was a roll of the dice by a desperate coach that sent him to the backline in the first place.

A champion full-back, Verdun Howell's attacking flair made him a star. Picture: AFL Media

Howell joined St Kilda in 1958 out of Tasmania as a promising forward, but Tasmanian football authorities wouldn't clear him until there were six games remaining in the season.

The Saints were going okay for forwards, but were a bit thin down back, hence the call by coach Alan Killigrew for Howell to make his debut at full-back.

"Killigrew said he was stuck," Howell said. "He said he had watched me at training and that I could mark and kick, so he was prepared to whack me straight into the team."

"I was grateful to play anywhere and that's how it came about."

He became a star the following season and the debate among Saints fans was whether he was a better mark or kick. Ask Howell and he says his attack on the ball was the feature of his game.

Howell (r) poses with Saints teammate Neil Roberts (l). Picture: AFL Media

"I didn't get caught up in putting on body pressure or grabbing people's jumpers. I would try to read the flight of the ball and approach it that way," Howell said.

"I could take a mark and I had confidence in my ability to do that, which is what Killigrew saw on the training track, but my Tasmanian grounding was just phenomenal for me.

"I was just a young 'fella' but I played against big-bodied men and the Tasmanian competition at that stage was very tough and very strong. I learned a lot in those days and that held me in very good stead," he said.

Tough nut Howell played the 1966 finals series with his jaw wired together. Picture: AFL Media

Howell was a smart mover off the ground as well. He was called up for national service during his brilliant 1959 campaign but asked for a deferment until the end of the season because his wife was heavily pregnant.

He approached the commanding officer of the St Kilda Army Barracks (conveniently located across the road from the Saints' then-home ground at the Junction Oval) and asked for permission to report later in the year

But the CO refused to budge and Howell eventually went AWOL on consecutive weekends to play for the Saints. He received Brownlow Medal votes on both occasions and would finish the year on 20 votes and in a tie with Bob Skilton, the South Melbourne champion winning the medal on a countback. Howell would receive his medal retrospectively, in 1989.

Howell was moved to the forward line in 1965 and in 1966 was vice-captain of the breakthrough St Kilda premiership team. But it was a painful experience; he broke his jaw a fortnight out from the finals and played the rest of the season with his jaw wired together.

Howell (l) with the 1996 Premiership Cup, having swapped guernseys with the beaten Magpies. Picture: AFL Media

It was a great time to be at St Kilda, but Howell still laments opportunities lost. "We had better teams than the one in 1966 that's for sure. We had some marvellous players who didn't play in grand finals for us."

Howell retired in 1968 after 159 games and 59 goals. He is a member of the St Kilda and Tasmanian Sports halls of fame and an icon of the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame.

Howell, 80 on June 16, coached the Richmond reserves to the 1971 premiership before moving to Western Australia, where he coached Claremont and where he still lives.

"I've had a pretty good run as far as awards are concerned, so this was a big surprise," he said of this latest honour.

FACTFILE: VERDUN HOWELL
Clubs City South/St Kilda/Claremont
Born June 16, 1937
Recruited from City South (Tas)
Playing career 1952-68 (CS 1952-57; St K 1958-68)
Games 226 (CS 67; St K 159)
Goals 59 (St K)
Player honours
Brownlow Medal 1959; St K best & fairest 1959; St K premiership 1966; CS premierships 1954, 1956; Victorian representative (9 games); St K Team of the Century; St K Hall of Fame; Tas Football Hall of Fame; Tas Team of the Century.
Coaching record: Claremont 1972-74 (66 games, 30 wins, 36 losses)

Who is in the Australian Football Hall of Fame? Find out more about the Hall of Fame legends, players, coaches, umpires, administrators and media personalities

- Ashley Browne

 

[TassieSaint]

As well as the Saints he's also in the Tasmanian Team of the Century.

Well deserved, was an absolute gun from all reports.

 

[George]

Great player. Vice captain to Baldock, and won the 1959 Brownlow playing from full-back.

Congratulations!

 

[Verdun66]

My boyhood hero. I admit to a tear or two watching the vision with the Neil Roberts interview. I wore the number 16 on the back of my Saints jumper for years. I was fortunate to meet Verdun a number of times when I was a kid, and he was the most lovely man.

I had no idea about this, so what a wonderful surprise. As was Verdun getting his retrospective Brownlow Medal.

I am extremely chuffed. Think that is the word!

 

[King_Steele]

Congrats Verdun!

Seems like a wonderful man.

 

[Verdun66]

I got asked on one of the Saints FB pages to share a memory or two of Verdun. This is what I wrote...

'My Dad got to know Verdun's brother through business and took me over to Verdun's place one night to meet him. Think we were dropping the brother off. I must have been 9 or 10. I had no idea where we were going, and Dad got me to knock on the door. Verdun answered it and said 'Hello Rowan'. You could imagine....I was struck completely dumb. My hero calling me by my name.

I had a kick with him one day with my plastic footy and he nearly broke his foot! I was terrified he couldn't play the next week. Those plastic footies were quite hard! Lots of memories. Lovely man. Great player. I of course wore the number 16 on my back.'

 

[Fred]

I saw him play dozens of times and he was great to watch. I've always liked attacking defenders whose sole intent is to win the ball and he was certainly that.

A richly deserved honour.

 

[Kildonan]

I only vaguely remember him. I was very young. My favourite at that time was the Doc. We had such a great list in that era and now with the lens of hindsight, I realise that having a fullback that was good enough to win a Brownlow must have been a huge asset. Has any other FB won a Brownlow medal?

 

[Fred]

I only vaguely remember him. I was very young. My favourite at that time was the Doc. We had such a great list in that era and now with the lens of hindsight, I realise that having a fullback that was good enough to win a Brownlow must have been a huge asset. Has any other FB won a Brownlow medal?

Fred Goldsmith Sth Melb. 1955 and yes, I saw him play as well.

 

[Kilroy]

Before Trevor Barker taking speccies from full-back there was Verdun Howell.



Both played for the Rosellas first.

 

[thepoyz]

My boyhood hero. I admit to a tear or two watching the vision with the Neil Roberts interview. I wore the number 16 on the back of my Saints jumper for years. I was fortunate to meet Verdun a number of times when I was a kid, and he was the most lovely man.

I had no idea about this, so what a wonderful surprise. As was Verdun getting his retrospective Brownlow Medal.

I am extremely chuffed. Think that is the word!

I remember my Nanna telling me stories about how good Verdun was. A Brownlow from full back is mighty impressive! He's now in the Tasmanian & St Kilda Teams of the Century and the AFL Hall of Fame.

 

[CALL ME SNAKE]

Besides from being a great player, premiership hero and Brownlow Medalist.
Every thing ive ever heard other football identities say about him usually includes "wonderful bloke and lovely family man" .
Thats his best achievement

 

[Verdun]

Great stuff to see another Saint recognized......never had the privilege of watching him play but have heard lots of ol Tassie blokes rave about him as a footballer and a bloke