2 June 2001
The old saying a change is as good as a holiday rings true for quite a few footballers. In the pursuit of self expression and fulfillment certain players have trailed their coaches from club to club. Some coaches can extract the best in players who believe in the wavelength philosophy. For example Russell Greene transferred from St Kilda to Hawthorn with 'Yabby' Jeans in 1980. Greg Williams tagged Tom Hafey from Geelong to the Swans in 1986. Recently Chad Rintoul crossed from West Coast to Collingwood to renew acquaintances with mentor Mick Malthouse. But one of the most unlikely combinations this side of Muhammad Ali and 'Smokin' Joe Frazier was that of John Howat and 'Swooper' Northey.
While Howat had a narrow range of skills he had powers of concentration that Steve Waugh would kill for together with a refined level of discipline. No odds were too big. Northey valued a man that sacrificed personal kudos for the greater good of the team. John Howat came from bayside club, Bayside. At Melbourne he wore the number 28 guernsey made famous by David Robbie and David Cordner. The How man was strongly built. 187 centimetres, 90 kilograms. He made his senior debut in 1989, the last truly wet winter when the MCG looked like Glenferrie Oval during the 1960s.
The young Demon performed well against Hawthorn in 1989 round 11. Played on the backline and over the tense first half took some goal saving marks. 25 minutes into the third Howat ran back with the flight of the ball and took a gutsy chesty before being liquidated by a pack. His work contributed to a great win. 10.9 to 8.6. The victory avenged to some extent the humiliating 96 point loss to the Hawks in the 1988 grand final.
On to 1992. Round 8 versus the Saints at Mulgrave. Howat showed his versatility. Could sing, dance, tell a joke. Was at centre half forward. Covered more ground than Burke and Wills. Number 28 took a pack mark late in the second. He hammered through a long set shot sausage from 50. Halfway through the third a running goal from 45. For defenders his accurate left foot made him hard to match up. Alas the Demons down 18.17 to 10.5.
John Northey left Melbourne to coach at his old club Richmond. He targetted John Howat. The Tigers used 1992 draft pick 97 to get their man. He took over the number 31 jumper from Brendan Bower. Previous wearers were Ricky McLean and Peter Welsh, hardly shrinking violets. JH took timely marks across half back in the 1993 Fosters Cup grand final v. Essendon. The Bombers cleared away to win the minor cup. The Tigers fronted up to Essendon at Optus in round 11. Howat on the forward line as a pinch hitter. He got the ball rolling with a clever snap goal on his non preferred boot. A team lifter. It was not enough. Bombers home 24.10 to 17.6. J. How had some achilles problems that season. He may have missed out on the 1995 finals but in 1996 round 19 the big guy scored a twin flagger from the centre square at the SCG 15 minutes into the last. Alas the Tiges lost 12.10 to the Swans 20.10. The following week against Geelong at the MCG Howat came off the bench and put John Barnes into dreamland. Richmond victors 19.18 to 9.13.
Northey became Brisbane coach in 1996. No surprise that the Punt Roaders delisted John Howat at the end of that year. He recorded 20 games at Melbourne and 45 with the yellow and black. What prolonged his career was like that Jimi Hendrix song 'Them Changes'.