The rise and rise of Tiger Joel
10:55:48 AM Fri 23 September, 2005
Sean Callander
richmondfc.com.au
Joel Bowden’s nature – seemingly laidback, nonchalant, unflappable – means he mostly slips under the football radar. Over the past two years, however, things have started to change.
Early in the 2004 season, those critics who had occasionally targeted Bowden, had a field day when he was dropped to the VFL with the Coburg Tigers.
But there was to be no sulking, as Joel Bowden revealed another side to his character – a passionate and determined player, fiercely loyal to the Richmond Football Club.
He responded magnificently to his demotion. Indeed, the period between Round 7 last year, to the final home-and-away round of season 2005, has marked the best football in Bowden’s AFL career.
Suddenly, a talented player, who had stayed mainly under the radar in his previous eight years at the Club, started to be noticed – and for all the right reasons.
He made the centre half-back position his own for the second half of 2004, and showed that he was much more than a one-dimensional, running player. When Bowden stood, and impressed against the Brisbane Lions’ ‘man mountain’, Jonathan Brown, Tiger fans weren’t the only ones to sit up and take notice of his defensive capabilities.
Richmond’s 2004 season flatlined, but the pulse of Bowden’s career had never been stronger, and he was rewarded with the 2004 Jack Dyer Medal as Richmond’s Best and Fairest player. The second generation Tiger couldn’t have been prouder, but it did not stop there . . .
Like many of his teammates, new Richmond coach Terry Wallace sparked Bowden’s enthusiasm for the game, and he picked up where he left off, virtually from day one of the 2005 season.
Stats don’t tell the whole story of Joel Bowden’s ‘05 season, but they don’t lie either. He played all 22 home-and-away games, dropped below 20 touches just five times, and bagged a season-best 33 disposals in that massive victory over arch rival Carlton in Round 7.
His season tally read 508 possessions, at an average of 23.1 per game, while his 137 rebound 50s ranked second in the competition behind only Collingwood’s James Clement.
But perhaps the most important aspect of Bowden’s season was the stability, experience and poise he brought to a back six that had struggled throughout the previous season.
With Ray Hall gradually settling in at centre half-back, Darren Gaspar back to full fitness and Chris Newman cementing his spot, Wallace was able to vary Bowden’s role as a sweeper across half-back, or as a man-marker – to great effect.
“The bonus this year, compared to last year, in my opinion, was the improvement in the defensive side of his game,” Wallace said.
“This year we gave him some big assignments in the backline, as well as relying on his ability to win the ball, and he was very sound defensively.
“I think that’s a sign of his maturity. Players mature at different ages and I just think Joel has matured a little later in his career.”
It seems the umpires (who failed to award Bowden a single Brownlow vote at this week’s count) were the only ones who didn’t notice him in 2005.
He certainly didn’t escape the notice of All-Australian selectors, who awarded Bowden a half-back slot in the 2005 line-up. It was his first All-Australian guernsey and the Tigers’ first in four years.
But perhaps the biggest honor came on Jack Dyer Medal night, when he became the first Richmond player since Dale Weightman in 1986 and 1987 to win successive Club champion awards.
It was a much tighter race than 2004, with Bowden pipping Matthew Richardson by just one vote (221 to 220). The general consensus, however, was that Bowden was a worthy winner.
Finally, a sometimes-maligned Tiger is getting the plaudits he deserves. More should follow early in season 2006, as Bowden is on target to celebrate his 200th game in the Yellow and Black.
Wallace understands that Bowden is an important commodity in the rebuilding process at Punt Road. With Matthew Richardson approaching the end of his career, the likes of Joel Bowden will play a pivotal role in bringing through the next generation of talented young Tigers . . .
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