Cam Howat breaks through
Andy Collins’ faith in young Tiger pays off.
VFL Record
Andy Collins was a stranger to Cameron Howat when the Hawthorn great arrived as Box Hill coach in the pre-season of 2004. Sure, Howat had heard of Collins, but not to the extent of being able to rattle off his credentials from a splendid career at Hawthorn and as a premiership coach of Sandringham.
However, Howat has come to know Collins particularly well over the past three years. Before the 2004 season, Howat admitted he didn’t know what direction to take with his football. Unable to get a regular game with the Oakleigh Chargers’ TAC Cup team, Howat found himself playing with Old Carey in the VAFA.
“I was deciding whether I would play locally with my mates, or give it a crack,” Howat said. Eventually, he chose to try out with Box Hill and began the preseason under Tony Liberatore, who departed soon afterwards to take up a coaching position at Carlton. It was at that stage that Collins entered the picture, and it
would prove a defining moment in Howat’s football career.
Collins took a shine to the strong work ethic of hard-running midfielder.
“Andy always thought that I had the ability, and he has backed me over the past few years and has always pushed me to get better,”Howat said. “He has been fantastic for my career.”
At the end of last season, Collins arranged for Howat, Alister Neville and Ben McGlynn to train for a spot on Richmond’s rookie list. McGlynn later decided to take up an offer from Hawthorn.
Howat, now 21, impressed Terry Wallace enough to earn a place on the Tigers’ rookie list, and as an added bonus, was able to continue his association with Collins, who had taken over as coach of the Coburg Tigers, Richmond’s TRUenergy VFL partner. “Andy has done the same kind of thing at Coburg that he did at Box
Hill,” Howat said. “He backs everyone and just gets the best out of the guys. Everyone has gelled so well.”
Howat’s hard was rewarded in round 13 of the AFL, when he was elevated to the Tigers senior list and named on the extended interchange for the match against the Magpies. He hopes to make his senior debut in the coming weeks, and despite being a rookie, is enjoying the fulltime football lifestyle. “I’m loving it,” he said. “I don’t have to work, which is a big weight off my shoulders from last year, when I had a full-time job as well as football.“This year, it’s all about footy.
The pre-season was tough, but now it’s all about recovery, planning for match day and performing at your best. That’s my focus.” Howat candidly admits his first half of the season didn’t produce everything he’d hoped for, but he thinks his best-on-ground performance against the Casey Scorpions in round nine may have
been a turning point. “The body is the best it’s been all year. I feel I’m definitely heading in the right direction.”
coburgtigers.com.au
