Richmond's Joel Bowden goes from endangered list to toast of Tigerland
Michael Horan | August 08, 2008
A MONTH into the season, dual All-Australian defender Joel Bowden's long AFL career seemed on the brink of ending.
Dropped after Round 3 having played 218 of Richmond's past 220 matches, the versatile left-footer spent a month languishing in the VFL -- at 30 he suddenly appeared too small and too slow for the game.
But in the past month Bowden has grabbed headlines, taken match-winning marks and kicked winning goals to be the toast of Tiger town.
And when the son of Richmond's 1969 premiership player Michael Bowden runs out against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday, he will join the elite 1.4 per cent of AFL footballers to reach 250 games.
Bowden yesterday spoke of his passion for Richmond, his love of the game and -- for the first time -- about that headline-grabbing incident at the MCG three weeks ago when he rushed two behinds to secure a four-point win in the dying seconds against Essendon.
"There were absolutely no options. Everyone was pretty much out on their feet and the umpire called me to play on, so I had to play on. There was no one to kick it to, so in my view my hand was forced," Bowden said yesterday, still bemused at the attention his actions received.
"I've always wanted the ball in my hands during the game. But when the crowd was screaming at you and the umpire is screaming at you, it's probably one of those times I wanted to put the ball in someone else's hands."
Bowden did not read the scathing press, which included one outraged view that the tactic was akin to cricketer Trevor Chappell's infamous underarm in a one-day international at the same venue.
"If that's the case, it would have been better if (brother) Patrick was playing and he was kicking out and I went and told him to do it. Other than that, perhaps it's a bit far-fetched," Bowden chuckled.
He said he did not know how much time was left.
"I had no idea. A lot of people have asked me that, but frankly I just got the ball, I was entrusted to kick out at a late stage of the game, and only when the siren went did I realise the ramifications of having the ball with 10 or 15 or 20 seconds left," he said.
To be in that situation at all was testament to a footballer who does not know the word quit.
Since returning to the side in Round 9 against Essendon, Bowden has produced three match-defining moments.
In Round 13, against Port Adelaide, he had 39 possessions. The last was a mark in front of Daniel Motlop that secured a four-point win for the Tigers.
A week after the defensive ploy against the Dons, Bowden kicked the winning goal against the Brisbane Lions to keep the Tigers' finals hopes alive.
Out of contract at the end of the year, Bowden is not quite ready to call it a day.
"I'd back myself to play good football and contribute to the team for the rest of the year," he said.
"I'd like to do that for as long as I possibly can. I love playing footy. It's a great occupation, it brings great joy to me -- not only myself, but to my family, my friends and supporters.
"I'm committed to playing football for Richmond -- for as long as they'll have me."
Coincidentally, Bowden made his AFL debut in Round 17, 1996, while the Olympics were in full swing in Atlanta.
Now, as the Beijing Games begin, he becomes just the 163rd player in AFL history to reach the 250-game milestone.
That means plenty to someone who is Richmond through and through.
"It's a great honour for me to play one game for Richmond," Bowden said.
"There are many, many guys I've played with and had strong friendships with who didn't get to play that one game, so I'm very honoured to get that opportunity.
"To get to 250 . . . it's a privilege. I almost feel a bit overawed at the names that come up who have played 250 games."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24144954-19742,00.html
