HIGH-flying forward/midfielder Jeremy Howe says that Melbourne’s 61-point loss to Fremantle at Patersons Stadium on Saturday was a “pretty flat” way for Melbourne to end its 2012 season.
“To lose by 10 goals - it wasn’t the way we wanted to finish, but it happened that way,” he said.
“It’s another season over, and now we’ve got to get ourselves up and look forward to the next pre-season.”
Having played Adelaide and Fremantle in the last two rounds of the season, Howe said their form was just a taste of what Melbourne needed to reach and ultimately surpass in the long term.
“We played two teams that made finals in our last two games - it was good for us to show where we’re at,” he said.
“Freo and Adelaide are playing good footy and they deserve to be in there - and that’s where we need to get to.
“We’ve got plenty of improvements, so hopefully we’ll get there soon.”
Although pleased with his progress in 2012 - he played every match, signed a new contract and showed he was an integral part of Melbourne’s plans - Howe said it had been a trying year for all concerned with the red and blue.
“It has been a tough year, even though my second year personally has been a lot better,” he said.
“Personally, I got a lot of confidence out of my second pre-season, and hopefully leading into my third year I can get a lot fitter and stronger again. Hopefully I can improve a lot more.”
Howe said he would relish the break, but he is also determined to hit the ground running once pre-season resumes.
“It’s important to get a good mental break and to get away,” he said.
“You need that mental break, and I’m really looking forward to going back home to see family and friends and then getting straight back into it.
“We get the first two weeks off in the break, and then a six week program leading into the pre-season to get ourselves right and up and going again. So we’ll get ourselves up for that.”
“To lose by 10 goals - it wasn’t the way we wanted to finish, but it happened that way,” he said.
“It’s another season over, and now we’ve got to get ourselves up and look forward to the next pre-season.”
Having played Adelaide and Fremantle in the last two rounds of the season, Howe said their form was just a taste of what Melbourne needed to reach and ultimately surpass in the long term.
“We played two teams that made finals in our last two games - it was good for us to show where we’re at,” he said.
“Freo and Adelaide are playing good footy and they deserve to be in there - and that’s where we need to get to.
“We’ve got plenty of improvements, so hopefully we’ll get there soon.”
Although pleased with his progress in 2012 - he played every match, signed a new contract and showed he was an integral part of Melbourne’s plans - Howe said it had been a trying year for all concerned with the red and blue.
“It has been a tough year, even though my second year personally has been a lot better,” he said.
“Personally, I got a lot of confidence out of my second pre-season, and hopefully leading into my third year I can get a lot fitter and stronger again. Hopefully I can improve a lot more.”
Howe said he would relish the break, but he is also determined to hit the ground running once pre-season resumes.
“It’s important to get a good mental break and to get away,” he said.
“You need that mental break, and I’m really looking forward to going back home to see family and friends and then getting straight back into it.
“We get the first two weeks off in the break, and then a six week program leading into the pre-season to get ourselves right and up and going again. So we’ll get ourselves up for that.”
