One of the guys who is in a Tigers e-mail loop with me at work is putting together a one-a-day player critique starting at #1 and working through the player list. It's a pretty good read so I thought I would share it with you.
Part 11 in the series….
11 - Joel Bowden
Position: Midfielder (Wingman)
Age: 24, turns 25 between rounds 12 & 13.
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 90 kg
Career Games: 127
Career Goals: 120
Draft History: Selected under Father-Son rule in 1995 National Draft, the good ol' days where you didn't have to burn a selection, just sign the forms, and tack him on the end.
2002 Averages: 22 Games, 15.1 Kicks, 5.7 Marks, 7.8 Handballs, 0.82 Goals, 2.9 Tackles, 2.7 Rebounds, 4.7 Inside 50s, 3.2 Clearance, 2.6 Clangers
2002 Summary: Finished 4th in the best and fairest and had a pretty consistently good year without really reaching great heights and some games where he racked up the stats but had little positive influence. Never less than 17 possessions in any of the 22 games, 14 times 20 or better, 4 times over 30. Big numbers but the question marks over his effectiveness and accountability were there throughout the season. Of interest, he lead the club in total numbers of Kicks and Inside 50's (next was 27 behind) and then was 2nd in total Marks, Handballs, Tackles and Clearances (Equal with Coughlan & Ottens), Also managed to be third in total rebounds and fifth in total goals. That's a lot of very good, but maybe not enough "great". So often his numbers were diluted with poor defensive efforts , overly "cute" disposals and lairising or long bombs to nowhere. Did show tremendous running ability - his average number of rebounds combined with inside 50's puts him up in the top 10 in the league. I thought he did push the football forward more often than in the past couple of years with less cheap kicks down back (though still quite a few of them) but I thought he ended up wider, more open and in less dangerous spots.
Previously: Finished 4th in the Best & Fairest in 2001, 3rd in 2000 when he kicked a career high 26 goals. Averaged 20+ Disposals in 2001 & 2000, 19 in 99, 17 in 98 & 97. Hasn't missed a game since returning from a shoulder injury Round 5 1998. Made a big impact as a Teenager and while progressing steadily hasn't probably hit the high marks Tiger fans seem to expect. Impressed me as a Teenager with his ability to win contested football in close and showed a hardness that seemed to disappear once he went through his shoulder problems. I remember being rapt that I thought we'd at last found a big strong centre square presence and devastated when he did his shoulder. Has consistently been within the top 3-4 players at Richmond but never really made the step to an "elite" player. The same criticisms of Bowden have pretty much been there through his entire career but also the ability to be a genuine quality player and potential match-winner has also been there.
Ability: 8 - Without doubt one of the most talented players at Tigerland and certainly closer to the best than the average guys.
Offence: 7 - Has the ability to kick goals from outside 50 which makes him very dangerous up forward. Good at making space in the forward line and can mark effectively inside 50. Loses marks for the ability to miss shots he should nail with a well below average efficiency rate with shots at goal which is very disappointing for a player of his ability.
Defence: 4 - Not a complete hack in a run-with role, but in general lacks accountability. Another who pushes back into defence pretty well, is often the guy who runs into space to take the reliving kick.
Hardness: 3 - Well below average. I have no doubt that Bowden's shoulder problems have left him a different type of player than what he was going to be and to me he still seems a bit gun-shy. It's been over four years now - I wish he'd get over it.
Speed: 5.5 - No sprint champion, but can be deceptively quick at times.
Stamina: 8 - Well above average in this department, Bowden is improving every year and is heading towards becoming one of the competitions best runners.
Delivery: 6 - Surprisingly, overall I rate Bowden as having above average disposal. Admittedly can miss the target badly at times, but then again has many more opportunities than most to muck the disposal up. Has a bad habit of over-kicking at times and tries way too often to be overly cute with the ball. Will hook the ball badly at times as well. But on the positive side, will regularly spot a target very well over 40-50m and over. Has a worryingly long time from hand to foot at times.
Part 11 in the series….
11 - Joel Bowden
Position: Midfielder (Wingman)
Age: 24, turns 25 between rounds 12 & 13.
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 90 kg
Career Games: 127
Career Goals: 120
Draft History: Selected under Father-Son rule in 1995 National Draft, the good ol' days where you didn't have to burn a selection, just sign the forms, and tack him on the end.
2002 Averages: 22 Games, 15.1 Kicks, 5.7 Marks, 7.8 Handballs, 0.82 Goals, 2.9 Tackles, 2.7 Rebounds, 4.7 Inside 50s, 3.2 Clearance, 2.6 Clangers
2002 Summary: Finished 4th in the best and fairest and had a pretty consistently good year without really reaching great heights and some games where he racked up the stats but had little positive influence. Never less than 17 possessions in any of the 22 games, 14 times 20 or better, 4 times over 30. Big numbers but the question marks over his effectiveness and accountability were there throughout the season. Of interest, he lead the club in total numbers of Kicks and Inside 50's (next was 27 behind) and then was 2nd in total Marks, Handballs, Tackles and Clearances (Equal with Coughlan & Ottens), Also managed to be third in total rebounds and fifth in total goals. That's a lot of very good, but maybe not enough "great". So often his numbers were diluted with poor defensive efforts , overly "cute" disposals and lairising or long bombs to nowhere. Did show tremendous running ability - his average number of rebounds combined with inside 50's puts him up in the top 10 in the league. I thought he did push the football forward more often than in the past couple of years with less cheap kicks down back (though still quite a few of them) but I thought he ended up wider, more open and in less dangerous spots.
Previously: Finished 4th in the Best & Fairest in 2001, 3rd in 2000 when he kicked a career high 26 goals. Averaged 20+ Disposals in 2001 & 2000, 19 in 99, 17 in 98 & 97. Hasn't missed a game since returning from a shoulder injury Round 5 1998. Made a big impact as a Teenager and while progressing steadily hasn't probably hit the high marks Tiger fans seem to expect. Impressed me as a Teenager with his ability to win contested football in close and showed a hardness that seemed to disappear once he went through his shoulder problems. I remember being rapt that I thought we'd at last found a big strong centre square presence and devastated when he did his shoulder. Has consistently been within the top 3-4 players at Richmond but never really made the step to an "elite" player. The same criticisms of Bowden have pretty much been there through his entire career but also the ability to be a genuine quality player and potential match-winner has also been there.
Ability: 8 - Without doubt one of the most talented players at Tigerland and certainly closer to the best than the average guys.
Offence: 7 - Has the ability to kick goals from outside 50 which makes him very dangerous up forward. Good at making space in the forward line and can mark effectively inside 50. Loses marks for the ability to miss shots he should nail with a well below average efficiency rate with shots at goal which is very disappointing for a player of his ability.
Defence: 4 - Not a complete hack in a run-with role, but in general lacks accountability. Another who pushes back into defence pretty well, is often the guy who runs into space to take the reliving kick.
Hardness: 3 - Well below average. I have no doubt that Bowden's shoulder problems have left him a different type of player than what he was going to be and to me he still seems a bit gun-shy. It's been over four years now - I wish he'd get over it.
Speed: 5.5 - No sprint champion, but can be deceptively quick at times.
Stamina: 8 - Well above average in this department, Bowden is improving every year and is heading towards becoming one of the competitions best runners.
Delivery: 6 - Surprisingly, overall I rate Bowden as having above average disposal. Admittedly can miss the target badly at times, but then again has many more opportunities than most to muck the disposal up. Has a bad habit of over-kicking at times and tries way too often to be overly cute with the ball. Will hook the ball badly at times as well. But on the positive side, will regularly spot a target very well over 40-50m and over. Has a worryingly long time from hand to foot at times.
) and this year playing on from the kick-outs and getting himself into all sorts of trouble. He's got to learn to concentrate for the whole game and to not take any possession for granted (especially the easy ones 