HE captained The Riverina Anglican College to a first Carroll Cup title in 2013, but it pales in comparison to the hoodoo Dougal Howard will attempt to break with St Kilda this month.
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Howard's move from Port Adelaide to St Kilda has proven to be a wise decision, with the Wagga product flourishing at fullback at Moorabbin as the club looks to add to its sole premiership in 1966.
The 24-year-old will be hopeful TRAC's second victory in the Wagga schoolboy competition recently could be an omen for the Saints, who play an elimination final against Western Bulldogs on Saturday.
GWS Giant Harry Perryman, Howard's second cousin and former teammate at TRAC, said Howard was always destined to be a star.
He believes St Kilda are capable of pulling off a surprise by going deep into the finals after witnessing what they're capable of firsthand in the Saints' 52 point drubbing of the Giants in the final round.
"I played school footy with him and some cricket at Osborne every now and then," Perryman said.
"Dougs was very athletic when he was younger. He played a lot of different sports but he was quick, and had good height. He was always going to end up somewhere I would have thought."
Perryman believes being given a chance to nail down a regular position in defence at St Kilda has been a major factor behind Howard's career year.
"He's having a great year. He does his job each week at fullback for the team and I reckon the Sainters are looking pretty good this year.
"They've got some momentum up and have a good mix, I think they'll have a good finals series.
"Although he had a good year at Port last year, he got moved forward and back but he's really settled into fullback at the Sainters.
"It would be hard moving teams but it looks like he's adjusted to it really well."
Perryman said it would be strange watching the finals as a spectator after the Giants featured in the finals in all three of his previous years there, including last year's grand final.
"It was nice to get the contract out of the way but it was disappointing we had a shocking year," he said.
"It's the first time I've missed the finals since I've been at the Giants, which will just be motivation for next year.
"I think Richmond will be hard to beat again. Maybe St Kilda or the Doggies might be an outside chance if they can build up on some momentum."
Fellow Wagga product Matt Suckling won't play this week after missing the last round win over Fremantle with a hamstring injury, but is expected to train fully on Saturday.
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