Howard started his own training program after returning from the Bomber's post season trip to London and has already put on four kilograms. He signed for another year on the rookie list before the start of the season, so he knew what his future held before the preseason started. ""I signed on with the club before the National draft. I had a choice of not accepting the rookie position and applying for the draft, but I decided I wanted to stay at Essendon. I didn't make the decision lightly and gave it a lot thought - I would rather be here than go interstate on a rookie list,"" Howard said.
""I was hoping to get drafted, but I suppose I didn't have that good a year in 2002. Essendon offered me another rookie position and I knew they weren't going to draft me in the National draft so I thought I would stay here because it is a great club and I have made some good friends here like Shane Harvey and Andrew Welsh.""
Howard hurt his shoulder early in the season last year and missed a couple of games. He returned to the VFL side and predominantly played on the wing and across half-back. Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy has already hinted to the 19-year-old that a back pocket position is a possibility this year, which Howard finds interesting. ""Mark Johnson is one of my favourite players and he is a tough back pocket player. He is always hard at it and I try to follow and watch what he does on the training track, so I wouldn't mind giving the back pocket a go,"" Howard said.
Howard started a physical education teaching course at Victoria University in Footscray last season, but has given that away to start a real estate course in March. He has been solely focussing on his football during the preseason, hoping to be the rookie that is elevated onto the senior list at the start of the season. ""Over the Christmas period I have put in the hard yards to make sure I came back fit. Pre season has been pretty hard so far, but I have been getting through it. We had the second 3.2km time trial last Wednesday and I didn't go as well as I would have liked, which was a little disappointing.""
""We had the Rye Gift on Saturday and I pulled up a little bit sore from that. I ran in four 70m and then one 120m. Joel (Reynolds) and I kept making finals, so you just keep running every 10 minutes,"" Howard continued. The Running group elective was Howard's first preference as he has competed in athletics since he was seven. ""I have always wanted to run in a Gift but I haven't had the opportunity. I only quitted athletics two years ago, so it was fantastic to have the chance to get back into competitive running,"" Howard said.
Howard is aware of the healthy competition between the other five rookies to claim the spot on the senior list and said this opportunity is added incentive to train even harder. ""You do feel competition with the other rookies, because the coaches have said they are going to elevate one rookie before the season starts. There is a bit of competition between us, but it pushes us all along. I am pretty sure the club wants to play with a full list this season, so that means one of us will be lucky and get the opportunity to go on the senior list,"" Howard said.
