Player Watch #8 James Rowbottom

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James Rowbottom

The Sydney Swans recruited James Rowbottom with their second selection at the 2018 AFL Draft and the midfield bull impacted from the get-go. The Oakleigh Chargers product made his AFL debut against Richmond at Marvel Stadium in Round 5, 2019 and finished the season with 12 senior games beside his name. Rowbottom also led the NEAFL MVP voting when it was hidden from the public after Round 12. The young Swan is a ball magnet, explosive at the stoppages, an outstanding tackler and a clean user of the footy.

James Rowbottom
DOB: 19 September 2000
DEBUT: 2019
DRAFT: #25, 2018 National Draft
RECRUITED FROM: Camberwell (Vic)/St Kevin's College (Vic)/Oakleigh U18

 

6yearsold

Club Legend
Nov 23, 2016
2,337
1,779
AFL Club
Sydney
Other Teams
Crystal Palace
Not sure why his kicking is seen as a weakness. At least on the highlights his kicking seemed to be better than most inside midfielders.

They are highlights. His poor kicks are not highlighted. You can watch some whole games on youtube.
 
Robo!!!! Didn’t think he’d be taken in the second and few others did as well. This tells me the club rated him very highly to use that pick on him above more fancied types like Valente etc. But that’s reassuring more than anything, because it means the club went into this draft knowing what they wanted and they got it.

Well done to the kid and hope he can carve out a career at our club!
 
Liking what I'm seeing so far. His kicking technique looks a bit awkward from the highlights, but very clean with his hands in close and has a bit speed along with evasive ability in traffic. More contested ball-winners are a major need for us at present, expect he'll get a debut in at some point next year.
 
Feb 28, 2007
51,375
66,869
Sydney
AFL Club
Sydney
Also very quickly checking but here Rowbottom got into Vic Metro's best list twice in four games

Round 1
BEST
Western Australia: Sharp, Foley, Oldfield, Stack, Hill, O'Reilly
Vic Metro: King, Anderson, West, Smith, Rowbottom, Quaynor

Round 3
BEST
Vic Metro: Smith, West, Taylor, McKenzie, Answerth, Rowbottom
Vic Country: Walsh, Duursma, McHenry, Flanders, Bowman
 
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