Tiger Bowden's true inspiration
8:40:53 AM Thu 16 September, 2004
Paul Gough
Sportal/richmondfc.com.au
Jack Dyer Medalist Joel Bowden has revealed a heart-to-heart chat with his father, Richmond premiership player Michael, provided the spark for his spectacular career revival in 2004.
Bowden's career was at the crossroads when he was dropped after the Tigers' humiliating round five loss to Adelaide this season - ending a six year, unbroken streak of 136 consecutive games for the club.
But after just one week in the VFL with Coburg, Bowden - helped by a positional change to centre-half-back - regained his form to such an extent that he ended the season winning his first Richmond best and fairest award.
And for the son of one of the members of Richmond's 1969 premiership team it was a dream come to true and Bowden was quick to pay tribute to his father for helping him recover from a tough start to the season after he received his first Jack Dyer Medal.
"I spoke to my father Michael (after being dropped) and he said I had two options," Bowden revealed to richmondfc.com.au.
"He said I could be a 150 game player who lives in the Northern Territory and could be remembered for just playing in the AFL or you can become a very good player."
Bowden said it was that talk with his father rather than the one week he spent in the reserves which helped him resurrect his season - which culminated in the 26-year-old winning the 2004 Jack Dyer Medal with 324 votes from Kane Johnson on 279 votes and Nathan Brown on 273 votes.
"One game in the reserves is not what makes or breaks a player," he said.
"It was more a personal decision to say - 'listen, I have to make the most of this opportunity to play for Richmond football club.'
"This club has given me the chance and I have to take it and do the best I can."
Bowden admits he was just as thrilled to win the supporters' award for best player in 2004 as he was to win the Jack Dyer Medal after often enduring a love/hate relationship with the Tiger fans despite his strong Richmond heritage.
"Basically I am a Richmond person and I really want the Richmond footy club to do the best it can," he said.
"Although we have performed poorly (finishing last in 2004 for the first time in 15 years) I was still trying 100 percent and I have my whole career."
But Bowden believes better times are ahead for the Tigers, following the appointment of Terry Wallace as coach.
The Tigers were the second lowest scoring team this season - averaging just 77 points per game - but Bowden is convinced that will change next year under Wallace.
"Terry Wallace is very positive, he is an attacking coach and he knows you can't win games kicking 12 or 14 goals a game," Bowden said.
"The feeling around the club has changed with a new coaching staff on board and a new administration (led by new chief executive Steven Wright) so hopefully there is some stability now moving forward."
"And if that occurs, I think Richmond can be a force again in the near future."
Regardless of what happens to Richmond and Bowden in the next few years under Wallace, the versatile Tiger will always be remembered as a Richmond best and fairest winner to further enhance the long history of the Bowden family at Tigerland.
"This (winning the Jack Dyer Medal) means the world to me," Bowden said.
"My family has been involved with the club for 35 years and while I want to continue to play for as long as I can, to have my name up there as a best and fairest winner - well I am proud as any Richmond supporter could be."
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