Bowdens may unite at Punt Rd
By Peter Ker
October 10, 2004
The chances of out-of-contract Bulldog Patrick Bowden joining Richmond have soared in the past 48 hours, but brother Joel won't be pressuring the club to make it happen.
A Bowden family reunion at Richmond became a distinct possibility on Friday when the Tigers finally secured a trade for Fremantle ruckman Troy Simmonds.
That trade meant the club was free to use its first pre-season draft pick on another uncontracted player and Patrick has emerged as a likely target should the Bulldogs fail to strike a new deal with the 23-year-old.
"It would be great for my family, it would be great to have the two brothers playing at the one club," Joel said.
"I'm there and my father played and my other brother played (there), so there's a lot of tribal Richmond supporters who would like to see him there. And that's good because, if he makes the decision to come across, then it would be greeted with a bit of joy and a bit of happiness . . . it's not a deal where he is walking out on the club or anything like that."
Richmond's ability to fit an uncontracted player under the salary cap also will be a factor, though the departure of Brad Ottens may have helped in that department.
Joel said he did not know what his brother's plans were and would not be trying to influence the club's decision.
"If he plays at the Bulldogs next year, he is certainly going to be a good player for them and be happy to play there," he said. "If he wants to come to Richmond, I would be very happy. I don't think there'd be any bad blood or any bad sentiment against him."
Joel said he expected Richmond to feel like a new club when he returned from the international rules tour of Ireland.
"A change is going to be good," he said.
"I dropped in there this morning to pick up my footy boots. It has been repainted, there is only one person left from the football side of things . . . we've got a new coach, a new assistant coach . . . so it would be like going to a new club - same address and same colours, but a new club."
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