Ken Hinkley has always loved the idea of a CHB who pushes deep forward and kicks goals. He tried getting Alipate Carlile to do it of all people. Howard has attributes to do it consistently. I've got no problem with him going back if that's how he's going to be deployed - having him anchored in defence all the time like Rance/McGovern is selling him short, IMO.
Sam Gray doesn't have a spot in this team once Dixon comes back. We've already seen that combination and it doesn't work - Gray isn't a groundball forward like Rozee, Butters, Motlop, Duursma and Amon are. He's more a poor man's Monfries. Add Houston to the mix up forward - who is good at ground level as well - and you've got your forward line set.
Wines will come in for a defender. I don't really care who. Cases could be made for Broadbent (good defender but slow), Lienert (good defender but hesitant) and Byrne-Jones (not a very good defender but fast). If it's not Lienert, it will be when Watts comes back (and I hope he does).
Sam Gray is a fav like Westhoff, Butters or Farrell will be dropped before S Gray IMO. I do see Westhoff adding way though than S Gray.
Ken is an idealist, he always backs what he wants to work.