STRENGTHS:

+ Work rate
+ Marking
+ Run and carry
+ Decision making
+ Footy IQ
+ Two-way running

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Speed
- Contested work
- Strength

PROFILE:

Scout Howden is a workhorse in the way that she goes about her football. Able to cover the ground really well, the Sandringham Dragons wing has a well-rounded game that features both offensive and defensive traits. Not afraid to get back into defence to assist her side, Howden can create scoring opportunities through her run and carry.

Playing off a wing, Howden showed a consistent approach to her running patterns and decision making, usually looking to bite off those riskier kicks into the corridor, but when not there, she did look for the safer, high-retention passes. That comes back to her footy IQ which enables her to get into good positions across the ground and mop up when required, or go forward and press the attack button.

While admittedly often in space, Howden consistently took marks and showed she can compete well in the air, standing at a tall 174cm which enables her to match it against most players. While not overly fast compared to some outside players, Howden makes up for it with her understanding of the game and she covers the ground well by getting into ball-winning positions.

She starts early and gets to space where she can dish off for one-twos or chip a pass forward just to keep the ball in motion. Always looking to keep the pill moving in transition, she works hard contest-to-contest and leads by example with her second and third efforts.

Howden's speed is a question mark given she likes to run and carry, but being able to assess situations and get into the right spots reduces the impact of that deficiency on her game. Additionally, her contested work and strength are areas of improvement, having played as that wing or rebounding half-back.

Though those roles are likely to be what she adopts at a high level given her work rate and footy IQ, adding a contested side to her game would be helpful in further developing her overall profile. As it stands, she has put in a body of work over the journey and with a basketball background is able to understand space around her and move accordingly.

Across 2024, Howden has shown her ability to cover ground consistently well with a ball-winning reliability, and that alone will hold her in good stead. She has areas to work on across the board, but comes with high praise as Dragons co-captain and plays a niche role that has become more crucial at the elite level over the last few years.