Tiger eyes his toughest challenge
6:44 PM Wed 29 August, 2007
By Greg Lange
for richmondfc.com.au
DEFENDER Joel Bowden has played 176 ??? bruising AFL games, but there’s a challenge ahead he’s not sure he’s ready to face.
Bowden is just one practical unit away from securing himself the title of primary school teacher, and despite enduring the intense verbal and physical warfare of Australian football, he is unsure whether he has what it takes to mix it in the schoolyard.
“Children could be the most brutal of all, because they are so honest,” Bowden tells richmondfc.com.au.
“Fortunately, I’ve not encountered anything yet that I’ve been criminally offended by, but you never know.”
Bowden is talking down his pedigree, of course. Both his parents and two of his brothers have been teachers at one stage or another, and with Bowden and his wife about to prepare their daughter’s first birthday party, he should have no trouble tackling any classroom rugrats once his AFL career comes to end.
Thankfully for Tiger fans, that’s still some way from happening, and despite the ladder position, Bowden says this year hasn’t been all bad for the club; the performances of Matthew Richardson and Nathan Foley providing plenty of inspiration for 2008.
“Both have probably been standouts at our football club this year,” Bowden says.
“I continue to enjoy watching Matthew play and give his all, as he has continued to do for over a decade. His performance over the last two weeks has exemplified that, taking 15 and 16 marks on very good defenders in Darren Glass and Mal Michael. He is an exception, especially at 32.”
“[Another highlight has been] seeing Nathan Foley produce football … I believed he was capable of on a regular basis.”
Bowden says the Tigers’ last three games against Collingwood, West Coast and Essendon, have also brightened the mood at Punt Road.
“To beat Collingwood and Essendon in the last two weeks has been a highlight because, as a Richmond person, it is always nice to beat your archenemies.”
Against St Kilda on Saturday, the Tigers have another opportunity to scupper the finals chances of another Victorian rival; a great incentive to finish the season off with a bang.
“It’s the last game and we need to finish a season, which hasn’t been great, on a positive note,” Bowden says. “St Kilda is a finals contender and if we are improving, which I think we have this year, it would be nice to beat a team above us on the ladder.”
TIGER TALKHow has fatherhood changed your routine in your spare time?I’m consistently up earlier and I’ve spent a lot more time going for walks with a pram. Alice has certainly kept me smiling. She’s been a very big highlight in my life in a season that’s not been full of highlights.”
Any particular reason for naming your daughter Alice?It was a mutual decision. We both liked the name.
Name one chore you would love to avoid doing, if possible.Coming from a family of six, which never had a dishwasher until later on, I have an engrained dislike of doing the dishes. If I could get out of them it would be great.
Name one television show you enjoy watching during the week.Spicks and Specks on the ABC. I’m a music enthusiast, so it’s interesting to hear the anecdotes and learn about artists.
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