Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Donald Howell

Known as
Don Howell

Born
15 July 1935

Died
5 December 2019 (aged 84)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 18y 10d
Last game: 23y 32d

Height and weight
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 73 kg

Senior clubs
St. Kilda; Collingwood

Jumper numbers
St. Kilda: 21
Collingwood: 14

Recruited from
St. Kilda (1957)

Don Howell

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
St. KildaV/AFL1953-19552990.3117%2
CollingwoodV/AFL1957-19581720.1259%3
V/AFL1953-1955, 1957-195846110.2433%5
Total1953-1955, 1957-195846110.2433%5

AFL: 6,374th player to appear, 4,517th most games played, 4,831st most goals kickedSt. Kilda: 975th player to appear, 481st most games played, 457th most goals kickedCollingwood: 587th player to appear, 605th most games played, 722nd most goals kicked

Aged just 17 Don Howell arrived at St Kilda in 1953 and made his senior VFL debut in round 13 of that year, having just turned 18. Touted as a possible centreman, he ended up playing for most of his career as either a wingman or half forward flanker. After making 29 appearances and kicking nine goals in three seasons he did the 1956 pre-season with the Saints before crossing to Collingwood, where he spent his first year playing only reserves football. He finally made his senior debut for the Magpies in the opening round of the 1957 season but over the course of his two year stint he struggled to establish himself, managing just 17games and a couple of goals. He did not play in Collingwood’s 1958 finals campaign which culminated in a memorable grand final defeat of Melbourne.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.