MELBOURNE’S Tasmanian high-flyer Jeremy Howe has declared his heart still beats true for the red and the blue.

The out-of-contract Howe is being chased by a host of clubs, but yesterday expressed his desire to stay at Melbourne as he approaches his 100th AFL game this Sunday against Greater Western Sydney.

Howe, 25, put off talks until the end of the season, but now with the year ending on Sunday for Melbourne, it is decision time.

“The club has been really good, they have respected my wishes of holding off until the end of the year, but before I knew it the end of the year came up really quickly,” he said.

“As all clubs want to know, the decision is going to have to be made sooner rather than later.

“It gives everyone the opportunity and knowledge of what is going on but for myself, I want to stay at the club.

“It is just a matter of getting the right deal done.”

Howe said his situation was far different from that of Carlton’s Lachie Henderson, who informed the Blues he was keen to move on and was then shown the door.

“He’s just been honest with the club, he didn’t see himself being there,” he said.

“I don’t really compare that to the situation I’m in because I still want to be there.”

Howe has had to deal with almost a full year of speculation over his future after the scrutiny started in round four.

“I’m not really one to read into it, I’m a pretty cruisy guy,” he said.

“But I do care what people think of me.

“When there is some negativity being written, it affects you a little bit but the world we live in I have to get over it pretty quickly and move on.”

It has been some journey for Howe who went from Dodges Ferry in the SFL to Hobart in the TSL and then to the AFL as a 20-year-old via pick 33 in the 2010 draft.

He said his form has mirrored that of the team’s, with a lack of consistency the killer.

But now he wants to end a 2015 that has had its brief highs and far too many lows on a positive.

“This week is going to be massive for us,” Howe said.

“We want to go out showing our supporters our brand of footy and give them some hope and positivity going into the following year.

“All the boys will be going out and having a solid crack.

“We are going to pick our strongest 22 this week and they’ll have a red hot dip that’s for sure.”