Former Players John McIntosh and Verdun Howell Swap Cards from the AFL.
John David McIntosh played for Claremont 146 games between 1962 – 1969. He then transferred to St. Kilda in the VFL.
Verdun Howell. A half forward during the bulk of the Tasmanian phase of his career with City-South, Verdun Howell was transformed by St Kilda into a prototype of the modern attacking full back. He played 159 games for the Saints between 1958 and 1968 and was second on a countback for the Brownlow in only his second season. 30 years later the VFL saw fit to award him a medal retrospectively.
After his retirement as a player, Howell coached Claremont from 1972 to 1974, steering the Tigers to a losing Grand Final against East Perth in his first season only to see them plummet to a wooden spoon the following year. When the 1974 season brought scant improvement he was replaced as coach by Mal Brown.
In 2004, AFL Tasmania announced its Tasmanian ‘Team of the Century’ which included Verdun Howell in a back pocket.
Author – John Devaney
