HIGH-flyer Jeremy Howe says next Sunday’s clash against St Kilda at the MCG looms as another tight encounter between two emerging teams.

Speaking after Melbourne’s 24-point win over the Brisbane Lions at the MCG on Sunday, Howe said if it was like the round 11 match – when the Saints won a thriller by two points at Etihad Stadium – then another nail-biter was on the cards.

“It’s two teams that are looking to improve and get better. They’re similar to us and showing really good glimpses,” he told melbournefc.com.au. 

“They smashed Essendon by 110 points and that’s the brand that they’re trying to produce week in, week out. They’re a good contested and tackling team – and we’ve got to try and take that away from them. That’s what we want to be known as, so it’s going to be won on the inside and then whoever can move it forward. 

“It’s going to be a good contest and the boys will embrace it and hopefully we can get on the other side of the points this time.”

Reflecting on Melbourne’s fifth win of the season, Howe said it wasn’t pretty, but it mattered little – as the red and blue got the four points.

“It was one of those ugly games that we were on the wrong end of, but we showed really good footy in that first half – that’s the way we want to play and that’s the brand we want week in, week out,” he said.

“We let ourselves down in the third quarter, but we grinded it out in the last.

“We’re going to take the four points – no doubt.”