Eye of the Tiger - Joel Bowden
AFL Record
Round 5, 2006
Joel Bowden was one of the Tigers' best in their first win of the season against the Brisbane Lions. He speaks to Ben Collins about Richmond's slow start to 2006, his attitude to training and improving and his plans for the future.
Our round one loss to the Bulldogs was the greatest defeat I've endured at Richmond.
Immediately after the game, I didn't know what to think It was an empty feeling, and I was dumbfounded because we'd trained so hard for five months and had good pre-season form yet we played so poorly. We thought we could play nice, pretty football, run through the middle and hit a leading forward, but football at this level is hard and uncompromising and the Bulldogs were certainly that. We let everyone down and it was a tough week at the club. Fortunately, we've got the rest of the season to atone for it. If that loss was in round 22, there would have been some real soul-searching and probably sweeping changes at the club.
We tried to increase our training efforts and keep things simple, which has translated into more competitive performances. Even though we lost another two games, the mood among the boys was one of anticipation: 'We're on the right track and we'll get a win if we continue playing in this manner.' Its been a bit of a turnaround, but its come about through hard work, resolve and application.
It's hard to win on the road, especially when you play back-to-back interstate games. Theres a huge emphasis on recovery and preparation. You train hard all pre-season to get a solid base fitness and try to maintain that through the year. Coming back from Perth with the slight time difference, you have to be mindful of factors like travel and the heat, so our fitness staff gave us a lighter week to freshen up. A lot of football is played above the shoulders anyway, so the Perth trip didn't really have an effect on us.
Until last week, our third quarters had been killing us. Thats when the Bulldogs and the Eagles blew us away. But there was a real resolve that, 'We're playing Brisbane, a good side; if we don't stand up in the third quarter, we're not a chance.' It was good to see a few things we'd worked on at training come to the fore in that quarter: Richard Tambling got a front-and-square goal, and we also kicked the ball to advantage-side and Greg Stafford converted. Games don't swing on big changes; only small things need to change. They came at us in the last quarter, but missed a goal and we took the ball the length of the ground and 'Richo' (Matthew Richardson) goaled. It was a two-gaal turnaround and a defining passage of play We were probably fortunate to win, but the way we played in the third quarter - our best quarter for the year - we were deserved winners.
I missed a lot of the game because I was so focused on chasing Jonathan Brown. After the game, I couldn't tell who the best players were. I knew 'Richo' and Stafford had done well - you notice the goalkickers - and I thought our midfield was good, but when you're on a key-position player, especially one as potentially damaging as Brown, you don't have time to observe much play. It was a role I'd set myself for early in the week when Darren Gaspar went down. I was hoping Brown wouldn't get out of control and kick five or six, which he is capable of doing. He was still a very good player for them and took about a dozen marks, but he missed a few shots, which helped me, but I don't think he overly influenced the game. I was reasonably happy because we won and he hadn't dominated.
Crowds don't like the kind of tactics we used towards the end. We slowed the game down to make sure we won. It wasn't pretty, but we did what we needed to do to win. It wasn't a conscious decision to hold onto the ball and then walk it through for a point to waste time. In a pre-season game, we tried rushing a behind and playing on quickly from full-back, but last week there were two separate occasions where our guys (Patrick Bowden and Chris Newman) had taken marks only a few metres from the goal line and conceded points. It was good thinking by those guys because we retained possession. I can't see that becoming a regular occurrence. If it did, perhaps there would be a rule change, where a rushed behind costs you three points.
I can't adequately express what it's like to play with (younger brother) Patrick. It's absolutely sensationaL I watched him from afar during his five years with the Bulldogs, but didn't have the same feeling of closeness, almost intimacy. It was fortunate that Terry Wallace had coached 'Paddy' previously and saw something in him. We've been able to do something that few siblings are able to do, especially in the modern game. It was great to finally have a win together and celebrate with him because we're very close. We grew up in a big, tight family with four brothers and a sister. It's great for the family because, courtesy of the national TV coverage, our games are beamed into the family home in the Northern Territory
We're 1-3 and on the bottom, but we've had a tough run. We've played the Bulldogs and St Kilda and then had back-to-back interstate trips. If we keep training well and continue improving over the next four to six weeks, hopefully we'll have a win/loss ratio and a ladder position that reflects a bit better.
My form has been OK, nothing spectacular - like the team. Started poorly but slowly improving. I focus on my consistency and competitiveness and helping our defence work together. My role varies, from playing on a crumbing half-forward flanker, where I can run and create, to playing on a key target, where I have to be tight and accountable and my primary job is to beat my man. I'm lucky that I'm 6'2" (I88cm), so I don't get overpowered or outsized too much, but I can still run with most midfielders. I'd say l'll play out my career in the backline, but the coach might have a change of heart. I'm happy to do whatever he wants.
Consistency comes through experience and feeling comfortable at the level. I was daunted when I started. I wasn't sure if I'd get a game. Or if I got a game, I wasn't sure I'd be any
good. In about 2000, I started believing I was competent at AFL level. Through preparation and consistency in training, I've become fairly consistent, especially over the past couple of years where I've taken my footy to another level - a level I want to maintain.
If you don't improve and you aren't willing to change, you'll fall behind. The only constant in life is change. I started at half-back, moved to half-forward, then into the midfield, and now I'm in the backline again. I'm consciously playing a bit heavier now - I'm about 92kg - I was 88kg when I played midfield - so I can play on a bigger opponent. But that's subject to a change of philosophy where the coach might say: 'We need you lighter so you can play on the faster running half-forwards.'
If you prepare yourself well and train hard, you can go into games confident. Then it's the law of averages: if you can get to 200 contests, you might win 10 to 15 per cent of them and become recognised as a good player. Those I admire most are the likes of (Nathan) Buckley, (Robert) Harvey, Games) Hird and (Shane) Crawford - four of the best players of the past decade. They've all been tagged relentlessly but have continued to play great footy. They've obviously changed things in their game, trained hard and smart and prepared welL
I try not to get too involved in what armchair critics say. The constructive criticism I place great value on comes from my teammates, the coaching staff and my family. In the media, a negative story is easier to sell than a feel-good story about the charity work and off-field volunteer work players do, an ' there has been an amazing increase in the amount of game development work players do and our club has been at the forefront of that with the 'Tigers in Community Foundation' we've set up. But hopefully I'll be remembered as a good player, a good person and, in my own mind, very satisfied with my career.
Hopefully I'll be a qualified teacher by next year. Dad (1969 Richmond premiership ruck-rover Michael Bowden) was a teacher for many years and works in the Education department for the NT government. I enjoy studying. It's mental stimulation that I need to keep me in perspective. I also enjoy mixing with people outside foory. As AFL footballers, we are very lucky - we're paid well and we're given the best medical and fitness advice - but it doesn't last forever and, when it ends, you need to be fully-equipped to enter the workforce.
