All-Australian team - Mike Sheahan includes Joel and Simmo on bench

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Mike Sheahan's All-Australian team

B: Graham Johncock (Adel), Darren Glass (WC), James Clement (Coll)

HB: Lindsay Gilbee (WB), Craig Bolton (Syd), Andrew McLeod (Adel)

C: Adam Goodes (Syd), Scott West (WB), Simon Goodwin (Adel)

HF: Matthew Pavlich (Frem), Nick Riewoldt (StK), Ben Cousins (WC)

F: Aaron Davey (Melb), Brendan Fevola (Carl), Brad Johnson (WB)

Foll: Brendon Lade (Port), Chris Judd (WC) Rover: Shaun Burgoyne (Port)

Inter: Tyson  Edwards (Adel), Joel Bowden (Rich), Peter Bell (Frem), Troy Simmonds (Rich)

Captain: Brad Johnson (WB)

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Herald Sun experts' Team of the Year
08 September 2006   
Herald-Sun
Jon Anderson

JOEL Bowden's standing in the football world has gone from an unfulfilled and inconsistent talent just three years ago to an automatic All-Australian selection.
 
Bowden, 25, finished 10th in Richmond's best-and-fairest in 2003 despite playing every game; his biography in the 2004 AFL media guide said, ``his defensive intensity and quality of disposal were sometimes questioned''.

Wind the clock forward to yesterday when 10 Herald Sun football writers were asked to select their All-Australian team for 2006.

Every writer had Bowden in their starting line-up, whether it be at centre half-back, half-back flank or back pocket, making him one of 12 players to be named in all 10 sides (Mike Sheahan picked him on the bench _ see opposite).

The rucking slot came down to a shootout between Brendon Lade and Dean Cox, with Tiger Troy Simmonds also gaining two nominations.

Lade got the nod, and the captaincy in recognition of his outstanding season and leadership qualities that have shone out in one of the AFL's youngest sides.

Herald Sun's team

B: Graham Johncock (Adel) Darren Glass (WC) James Clement (Coll)

HB: Lindsay Gilbee (WB) Chad Cornes (Port) Joel Bowden (Rich)

C: Nick Dal Santo (St K) Scott West (WB) Simon Goodwin (Adel)

HF: Ben Cousins (WC) Nick Riewoldt (St K) Shaun Burgoyne (Port)

F: Brad Johnson (WB) Brendan Fevola (Carl) Matthew Pavlich (Freo)

R: Brendon Lade (Port) Adam Goodes (Syd) Chris Judd (WC)

I: Barry Hall (Syd) Aaron Davey (Melb) Alan Didak (Coll) Andrew McLeod (Adel)

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,20371749%255E19742,00.html

[mightytiges]

I think Simmo might miss out on AA as third ruckman. Joel's probably the only Tiger who got a good chance of AA. I would have him ahead of Clement.

[PuntRdRoar]

Bowden shouldnt get AA. Ive said this before about Bowden...Cheap kicks in defence doesnt do anything for me. I also think him winning the 2nd JDM was an error. 1 I could live with, 2 was wrong. He is as Jack Dyer would say...a good ordinary footballer but nothing more. How RFC see him as a star is beyond me. Stick him in the guts...to win us a game of footy...but hes never done it. Im sorry if my view will displease people but thats how i see it. Itd be  diabolical if they give him a 3rd JDM.

[mightytiges]

Bowden shouldnt get AA. Ive said this before about Bowden...Cheap kicks in defence doesnt do anything for me. I also think him winning the 2nd JDM was an error. 1 I could live with, 2 was wrong. He is as Jack Dyer would say...a good ordinary footballer but nothing more. How RFC see him as a star is beyond me. Stick him in the guts...to win us a game of footy...but hes never done it. Im sorry if my view will displease people but thats how i see it. Itd be  diabolical if they give him a 3rd JDM.

Disagree Ramps. It's only cheap kicks if you don't do generate run and/or miss your targets. Joel has been our best rebounder out of defence and top 10 in the League 3 years running. Newman was our next best rebounder and we missed him big time in the second half of the year. You need quality rebounders in modern footy - Gilbee, Wirrpunda, Johncock, Clement, etc. I has always though wished Joel was pushed to FF now and then to offput the opposition defence as he can play small or tall.

[bluey_21]

Reckon J Bowdo deserves another AA

[JohnF]

I've never been a big fan of Bowden's play up back. He does get plenty of the ball but sometimes he plays awefully loose and lots of goals get kicked on him.

Bowden 3 time B&F and 2 All-Australians? That just sounds wrong.

It will probably happen though.