He might look mad as a hatter, but Bowden will be missedNathan Brown | August 16, 2009
MOST footballers would know the Hollywood blockbuster Any Given Sunday and would have drawn some inspiration from the speech that an ageing Al Pacino gave his NFL team. Part of the address particularly relates to ageing footballers:
"You know, when you get old in life, things get taken from you. I mean that's … part of life. But you only learn that when you start losing stuff. You find out life's this game of inches. So is football. Because in either game, life or football, the margin for error is so small - I mean one half-a-step too late, or too early, and you don't quite make it. One half-second too slow, too fast, you don't quite catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us."
I first watched the film at Joel Bowden's house and yesterday Joel played his 265th and final game for the Richmond Football Club. Thirty-one isn't old. Many people that age haven't even figured out what they want to do with their lives, yet as a footballer you have already had a career, grown so much, had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, played on the biggest stages and met so many great people along the way.
I remember when my old Bulldogs captain Scott Wynd retired. He stood up in front of the boys, this mountain of a man, shed a tear, told stories and shared a laugh. But the thing that stuck in my mind was him saying: "You'll wake up one day and wonder where the last 10 years went. Make the most of it. They're the best years of your life and they fly by in an instant."
I was only 21 and couldn't fathom what he was talking about. I thought the next 10 years of my life would last forever, but here we are 10 years on and true to ''Wyndy's'' words, time flies.
Joel is Richmond through and through and whatever he turns his hand to next, he will be a success. But it's still a sobering thought to think that what he has done religiously for the last 14 years has just come to an end.
Joel can polarise people's opinions and he would be the first to admit that he is not everyone's cup of tea, but when you spend time with him you start to respect and appreciate the way he conducts his life. He's an intelligent, giving person who lives for his family. His kids are the luckiest children alive having a parent like Joel.
To play AFL you have to have a thick skin - coaches' sprays, scrutiny and teammates' ribbing are part of everyday life and ''The Bowd'' has copped plenty over the years.
One of my favourite memories was in Ireland in 2004 when Joel and I were representing Australia. A few people hadn't spent much time with Joel and might have been put slightly offside by his outspoken ways. We had just been smashed by the Irish and were required at an after-match function.
Joel rocks in with this ridiculous top hat that would have been 30 centimetres high off his head and a black cane. This infuriated a few of the coaches and selectors. One well-known All Australian selector sidled up to Joel and recommended that he remove the stupid hat. The hat stayed on all night. Joel would have influenced a lot of players he has played with and he has helped me become more understanding of people who don't see things the way I do.
He's a different cat, Joel. I get in his car and he's listening to ABC talkback, but he's one of the first blokes I love to have a laugh and a beer with. Don't be surprised one day if he's running the United Nations or some left-wing political party.
Football careers go very quickly and you need to make the most of your opportunities; 265 games, two All-Australian, two best and fairests and a person who walks away holding his head high - maybe even in a top hat. Well done, Joel.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/joel-bowden-will-be-missed/2009/08/15/1249756479986.html
