JEREMY Howe says he still doesn’t have a preference over whether he plays down back or up forward this year.

But the high-flying Demon says he has spent the entire pre-season training with the defenders, but that doesn’t mean he’ll necessarily stay there for 2015.

“I’m enjoying playing half-back, but I also enjoyed playing in the forward line as well,” he said.

“As long as I get a game, I’m pretty happy.” 

Howe said having a pre-season to train as a defender had helped significantly.

“Last year, I went down there and played there, but this year I’ve really tried to knuckle down and get around the boys and learn all about that role.”

“I’m enjoying it at the moment, but whether I stay down there, it’s a question for Roosy. But at the moment, I’m pretty happy down there.”

Howe said he hadn’t missed a beat this season with his running, despite carrying a thumb problem early in pre-season.

“I had a bit of a hiccup with a thumb injury, but being able to stay on the track and get all the training in has been really good,” he said.

“I’ve been knuckling down on that half-back role, which I’m enjoying at the moment.

“As long as I can keep out there and tick the boxes and [get] the training done, then I’ll be pretty happy.”

Howe said Melbourne’s pre-season camp in Maroochydore had been a tough gig, but plenty of benefits had already been gained.

“It’s been pretty tough and pretty solid. We’re getting through and training well,” he said.

“[Last] Saturday’s session went for over three hours and had four quarters of training.

“The boys were heavily fatigued going into skills and then we all did a bit of running at the end of each quarter. We [had] to make it game-like as possible and the boys were really struggling, so that’s why we’re up here – to get through the tough times and that’s what we’ve got out of it the most.”

Howe said the relationships that he had built in the camp had also been a highlight of the time away together.

“We’ve got 22 new players over the past two years, so it’s a fair turnover of players and just to get to know them on a personal level – not just on a footy level – that’s what we’re gaining the most,” he said.

“Becoming that real tight-knit group – that’s the most we’re getting out of it.”