Dougal Howard Biography

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson apologises for comments made towards St Kilda players at the quarter-time break during the club's AAMI Community Series match at RSEA Park.

Following a heavy bump on Kangaroo Jy Simpkin by Jimmy Webster, Clarkson says he 'voiced his displeasure' towards Webster and Saints defender Dougal Howard, an exchange he conceded on Monday was "unnecessary" and included "inappropriate" language.

"I was deeply disturbed seeing our captain Jy Simpkin forced from the field as a result of a heavy collision just before quarter time," Clarkson said in a statement.

"Jy has had a great pre-season and has now had three concussions in 12 months and I was so disappointed to see him leave the field in that way."

Dougal Howard is set for a stint on the sidelines due to a wrist injury.

Howard hurt his wrist in the opening quarter of St Kilda's victory over North Melbourne last weekend, with scans subsequently revealing a fractured left scaphoid that will require surgery.

Jack Steele will be the sole skipper of St Kilda in 2022 after sharing the captaincy duties with Jarryn Geary in 2021.

Geary stepped down as co-captain last week but will remain in St Kilda's leadership group alongside Callum Wilkie, with Tim Membrey and Dougal Howard to serve as co-vice-captains.

St Kilda will have co-captains in 2021 with Jack Steele joining incumbent leader Jarryn Geary as skippers of the club.

"To have 'Gears' alongside me is also really special. He's really taken me under his wing, and I've learned so much from him since joining the club. His leadership is second to none, not just his voice on-field, but also how he rallies the group off it," Steele said.

Defender Dougal Howard has also been fast-tracked straight into the seven-man leadership group as vice-captain alongside Tim Membrey.

Callum Wilkie is a first-time inductee and joins last year's members Seb Ross and Jack Billings.

Jack Steele wins the Trevor Barker Award as the Saints' best and fairest for the 2020 season.

Steele's honour follows him earning maiden AFL All-Australian honours and finishing top five in the AFL Players' Association MVP and AFL Coaches' Association Champion Player of the Year.

Steele was a clear winner on 207 votes, with recruits Dan Butler (second, 126 votes), Dougal Howard (third, 122), Zak Jones (sixth, 117) and Paddy Ryder (eighth, 107) featuring prominently.

St Kilda lands Port Adelaide pair Dougal Howard, Paddy Ryder, pick 10 and a future fourth-round selection in exchange for selections 12 and 18 and a future third-round pick.

Howard's agent, David Trotter, of Hemisphere Management Group, confirmed his client had penned a five-year contract with St Kilda.

"It's great that we got the deal done. Port and St Kilda were both really good throughout the whole process," Trotter told AFL.com.au.

"'Dougs' loved his time at Port. The move to the Saints, who see him as a genuine key defender and are bringing him in in that role, really excites him with the young list.

"He's got a couple of good mates there in Jack Steele and Logan Austin who he's excited to be joining, and he's looking forward to hopefully, some more players coming in over the next 24 hours and building from there."

Dougal Howard requests a trade from Port Adelaide and nominates St Kilda as his preferred new home.

Howard signed a three-year contract extension in December last year to remain at Alberton until the end of the 2022 season but circumstances have changed dramatically since then.

The Power preferred to use co-captain Tom Jonas and Tom Clurey as their key defenders this past season, and instead sent Howard into the forward line.

Howard kicked multiple goals in four games before he was dropped to the SANFL for the final month of the AFL season.

Port Adelaide's list management team subsequently informed him in his exit meeting that his future at the club was as a forward, and gently encouraged him to explore his options.

North Melbourne and St Kilda are both interested Dougal Howard, who is still contracted.

"We need a key back and Dougal, obviously, fits that mould for us but there are a couple of other players in that area we might have a look at," North Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw said.

"We're looking to fill that need down back, so that will be the primary spot for him (if he played for the Roos)."

"If Dougal wants to come to the Saints, he fits in as a key position – whether that's back or forward," Saints football boss Simon Lethlean said.

"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.

"He's captained his club this year, so it shows the leadership he's got. He'd be a good get if he wants to come to Victoria, but I don't think he's decided yet."

Dougal Howard is emerging as the player who could help deliver Essendon forward Orazio Fantasia to Port Adelaide.

The Bombers met with Howard this week, having reportedly long coveted him, including before he signed a three-year extension in December.

The 199cm defender-forward also had meetings with North Melbourne and St Kilda, while Collingwood has made an enquiry.

Fantasia, who is contracted until the end of 2021, is reportedly keen to return to South Australia.

The 24-year-old's family and girlfriend still live in his home state, and he has a strong relationship with Power assistant coach Nathan Bassett.

Essendon and North Melbourne have reportedly honed in on Port Adelaide's Dougal Howard in a bid to replenish their key-position stocks.

There is a growing belief the contracted Power swingman can be lured from Alberton despite him signing a three-year extension in December last year to remain until the end of 2022.

Howard's decision may come down to his willingness to play as a forward at Port Adelaide.

Dougal Howard captains the Power to a 38-point win against Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval in the absence of injured co-captains Ollie Wines and Tom Jonas.

"We absolutely believe that Dougal's an emerging leader of our football club," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.

"As I said to him on Friday, this was a younger team so you're going to come through together, you're going to work together and you're going to get led by someone of a similar age."

Dougal Howard signs a three-year contract extension with Port Adelaide to remain at the club until the end of 2022.

"I feel really positive about us having some real success this year and going forward," Howard said.

"The length of my contract means I don’t need to worry about it for a while now and I can just focus on improving myself as a player and ensuring I am playing good footy."

Douglas Howard signs a new two-year deal with Port Adelaide that will keep him at the club until the end of 2019.

The 21-year-old hasn't cracked a senior appearance this year coming back from a knee reconstruction, but has a bright future at Alberton.

"He's done everything right through his rehab and really offers us some versatility," Power forwards coach Brendon Lade said.

"'Doogs' can kick a bag up forward or give us some height down back, and even pinch-hit in the ruck if need be.

"He's showing a lot of promise."

Dougal Howard limps off the ground against Fremantle with a suspected ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee after colliding into Docker Michael Walters in the third term.

Dougal Howard has had surgery to repair the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will be sidelined for the next 12 months.

"In terms of the surgery, it all went well for 'Dougs', unfortunately it's a pretty long road recovering from ACL injuries," Power high performance manager Darren Burgess said.

"It's too early to say how long the rehab will actually take, but often it's a return around the 12-month mark."

Dougal Howard makes his AFL debut for Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval with 9 disposals (4 kicks and 5 handballs), 4 tackles, 4 hitouts and a goal in a 58-point loss to Adelaide.

Dougal Howard signs a one-year deal that will see them remain at Port Adelaide in 2017.

"Dougal battled a stress fracture in the first half of the season, but he gave us something for the rest of the year, played in a couple of positions and has worked really hard on the track this summer," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.

Port Adelaide select Dougal Howard with pick No.56 in 2014 NAB AFL Draft.

"He's 199cm, he's got speed, he's quite aggressive in the way he plays and he can get off his man," Port list manager Jason Cripps said.

"He's a project player, but he's shown that he can potentially play a second ruck/key forward role."