Bowden retires [merged]

[one-eyed]

Retrieve Joel Bowden from the twilight zone
Mike Sheahan | August 06, 2009

FROM the outside, Richmond seems to be treating Joel Bowden shabbily. Maybe even shamefully.

He is languishing in the Coburg reserves and has played seven straight VFL games.

It's as if he has been cast aside, seen as obsolete, yet he is one of the most professional, reliable and loyal Richmond people of the past 25 years.

Typically, his spirit is said to be positive, while his stats say his form is sound.

The expectation is he will return to senior level in Round 20 for the game against Collingwood on the day of his testimonial function.

This bloke deserves more than a farewell game. He is a dual best-and-fairest winner, and to the best of my knowledge, has never caused a moment's trouble in 14 years at Punt Rd.

He also happens to rank ninth in the club's history for games played (264).

If the Tigers are trying to win games, as you would expect of a lowly club no longer eligible for a priority draft pick, Bowden should be playing.

As Ben Cousins and Nathan Brown are, as was the plan for Matthew Richardson until his latest setback.

Of course the club is entitled to take the long-term view, in fact, it is obliged to, yet Bowden wouldn't hurt the cause.

He is in Richmond's best 22.

Cousins has been feted as a hero this year, yet he has been at the club a proverbial 10 minutes and it's not unfair to say he has brought his idiosyncrasies with him.

Bowden, only nine days his senior, continues to back up week after week at Coburg, obviously playing out time.

It's a strange situation.

While many people, including some Richmond fans, often mocked his supposedly unaccountable way, presumably he played the way he was told to by coaches wanting him to set up play from deep in defence.

No one seemed to mind the way he played when he was assigned the task of minding gorillas in the goalsquare week after week two and three years ago.

This bloke loves his footy club and has represented it with dignity for a long time.

It is a family that deserves respect.

He and his brother, Patrick, both represented the club in the current decade, and their father, Michael, is a Richmond premiership player, a creature seemingly headed for extinction.

I will always remember Bowden for his passion for Richmond in an appearance on On the Couch several years ago. Neither the public ridicule for Richmond, nor its chronic lack of success diminished his affection for his club.

Next morning, the station and the football club were flooded with positive messages.

Bowden shouldn't be frozen out of his club.

Rather, he should be managed through a departure that tells the football world he has made a significant contribution, and that it isn't necessarily over just yet.

Hopefully, he is not paying the price for his intellect, points of difference and propensity to speak his mind.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25889429-19742,00.html

[Jackstar is back]

Hopefully, he is not paying the price for his intellect, points of difference and propensity to speak his mind.


Got it in one Mike

[Tigermonk]

Hopefully, he is not paying the price for his intellect, points of difference and propensity to speak his mind.


Got it in one Mike

exactly correct Richmond poo on him

[Infamy]

Who cares. This year has just been proof that Bowden was kept on a year too long
Same with Johnson

[Tigermonk]

Who cares. This year has just been proof that Bowden was kept on a year too long
Same with Johnson

Bowden has proven form, your the only one in denile cause you know nothing about football.
The reason why RFC could never get top players or people to the club cause the way they treat people
Next you be telling me McMuffin is a better player than Bowden

[Stripes]

We have been a better team without some of the older players and average toilers. While they may have helped us achieve more short term wins like Bowden did last year, in the end they are holding back the progression of younger players who may be part of our future. It is undeniable that Bowden is a strong, intelligent personality who has the Players Association top job there for the taking as soon as Gale moves on but he had to be moved aside to allow the club to try out some of our developing back men. I think Bowden has handled the situation extremely professionally and fully understands the stance of the club on his future.

I disagree with the article - I don't believe he has been treated unfairly no more than any players as they begin to reach the end of their careers. The club owes him a send off which the Collingwood game is but beyond that Joel's bright future belongs outside of a footy field.

Stripes

[Infamy]

Who cares. This year has just been proof that Bowden was kept on a year too long
Same with Johnson

Bowden has proven form, your the only one in denile cause you know nothing about football.
The reason why RFC could never get top players or people to the club cause the way they treat people
Next you be telling me McMuffin is a better player than Bowden

Now now, let's not go over the top here

[Tigermonk]

We have been a better team without some of the older players and average toilers. While they may have helped us achieve more short term wins like Bowden did last year, in the end they are holding back the progression of younger players who may be part of our future. It is undeniable that Bowden is a strong, intelligent personality who has the Players Association top job there for the taking as soon as Gale moves on but he had to be moved aside to allow the club to try out some of our developing back men. I think Bowden has handled the situation extremely professionally and fully understands the stance of the club on his future.

I disagree with the article - I don't believe he has been treated unfairly no more than any players as they begin to reach the end of their careers. The club owes him a send off which the Collingwood game is but beyond that Joel's bright future belongs outside of a footy field.

Stripes

funny that you say he was in the side & we were winning games & then they drop him & it was not due to poor form either & the people who repalce him are so pathetic & cant win games & play the uglyiest football l ever seen
You say pushing the older players aside  well take Cousins who is older the Bowden out of the team & Richmond would be complete poo 

[one-eyed]

Joel will know his future in 2 weeks but Jade said he won't be discussing it in the media.

Make of that what you will.

[Go Richo 12]

Joel will know his future in 2 weeks but Jade said he won't be discussing it in the media.

Make of that what you will.

Well considering he has discussed the futures of Richo and Cuz with the media and that it appears they are staying, i would think Joel is gone! Joel mustve sledged him pretty hard in his playing days!

[Stripes]

Monky, I know Joel is your favourite player but surely you can see that his time is drawing to a close. Regardless of whether he wins us every game for the rest of the season off his own boot he will not be around when the majority of our list is at their peak. If he plays on he would only be holding back another young developing player from the gaining the experience that may enable them to become a crucial component of our future success.

Bowden will always be remembered as a good player for the Tigers but he is no where in the league of Richo and Cousins. Richo and Cousins are stars of the game and as such are afforded more opportunities to play and extended longevity to their playing careers.

We are winning a few games and losing a few at the moment but that is irrelevant. The rest of the season is more about game style, team play and developing players confidence and experience. Bowden would not benefit from this because he is at the tail end of his career.

Sorry Tigermonk - playing Bowden for the rest of the year would be counterproductive to our future. Surely you can see that big fella?!

Stripes

[Jackstar is back]

Its is an absolute disgrace the way the club has handled Joel Bowden.

[WilliamPowell]

Only comment I will make about Mike's article is why didn't he writing this sort of stuff last season with regard to Tiv? Selective Mike very selective

[one-eyed]

Bowden wants chance to say goodbye
Martin Boulton | August 7, 2009

RICHMOND veteran Joel Bowden is expected to play his farewell game against Collingwood at the MCG in round 20.

Bowden, 31, who made his debut for the Tigers in 1996, is in talks with the club about the details of a final game, which would be held on August 15 and coincide with his testimonial dinner.

Bowden, a dual best and fairest winner, has not played since round 11 and it's believed the club has already told him that he won't be offered a contract extension into 2010.

However, the Tigers are keen to continue a relationship with the 264-game player, who was originally recruited from the Northern Territory and went on to claim All-Australian jumpers in 2005 and '06.

Bowden is one of several Tigers players over 30 who could be moved on when the club appoints a new coach.

Former captain Kane Johnson retired after an injury-plagued season, while ruckman Troy Simmonds and Nathan Brown also face uncertain playing futures.

Bowden was drafted to the club under the father-son rule and played for several years alongside his brother, Patrick, who was delisted at the end of 2008.

After a brief stint in the VFL last year, Bowden returned for the Tigers in round eight, playing every game for the rest of the season. He has played 11 games this season, averaging 25 disposals.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/bowden-wants-chance-to-say-goodbye/2009/08/06/1249350637605.html

[Ox]

Bowden has proven form, your the only one in denile cause you know nothing about football.

 

and u know nothing about spelling,which is hilarious considering you use it to put posters down..so u don't feel so bad about not making it in at the top level.