Player Watch #23 Ned Bowman

[Wheresbuddy]

First of all, I got my years wrong. It was the 2024 draft that we took Bowman and it was North's first pick in 2025 that they offered us for pick 25 last year which we used to take Bowman. As we declined, they offered the same deal to Richmond for pick 27 which they gleefully accepted. It was a straight swap. Our pick 26 now for their first pick the following year.

With North likely to finish in the bottom 3, I think it was a bad call.
I listened to a podcast some time ago from Cal Twomey who disclosed all the offers that were put forward by clubs during the first two rounds and he was clear that north desperately wanted to get back into last year's first round and made the same offer to not only us and Richmond but a few clubs prior to our pick as well.

North offered their 2025 1st rounder for Richmond's 2025 second rounder and 2024 pick 27. North were hoping they would make a big jump up the ladder and Richmond to remain shite. That way, the two 2025 picks exchanged would end up being close in value.

 

[McRobie]

Anyone got any mail on Bowman and his progress?

 

[bedford]

Anyone got any mail on Bowman and his progress?

Watched him live in the ressies last week , he'll be okay , needs a bit more muscle to play higher , but might get a game near the end

 

[S120]

From what I’ve seen, I think his game and body type will be better suited to being a defender than a forward in seniors footy. He’s got a Jeremy Howe

38

Jeremy Howe

Age

35

Ht

190cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.0

4star

K

11.2

4star

HB

5.7

4star

M

6.4

5star

T

2.1

4star

MG

318.1

4star

D

21.5

5star

K

16.5

5star

HB

5.0

3star

M

6.5

5star

T

2.0

3star

MG

433.3

5star

D

15.2

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

6.2

4star

M

6.8

5star

T

1.6

4star

type of intercepting ability I think, springy leap and good hands and a good height. Excited to see him continue in defence. He and Dattoli are exciting prospects.

 

[bedford]

From what I’ve seen, I think his game and body type will be better suited to being a defender than a forward in seniors footy. He’s got a Jeremy Howe type of intercepting ability I think, springy leap and good hands and a good height. Excited to see him continue in defence. He and Dattoli are exciting prospects.

Standing close to him he's not that big , but still time to grow

 

[strauchanie59]

He was okay yesterday, but played more of a key defender role against a tall North attack. Think it will benefit him greatly in the long run.

 

[Nool Carpenna]

Standing close to him he's not that big , but still time to grow

Decent quads by any standard. Always a good platform imo

 

[bedford]

Decent quads by any standard. Always a good platform imo

Just a bit of bulk will help , but hopefully excited to see him develop

 

[Dubai Quacker]

From what I’ve seen, I think his game and body type will be better suited to being a defender than a forward in seniors footy. He’s got a Jeremy Howe type of intercepting ability I think, springy leap and good hands and a good height. Excited to see him continue in defence. He and Dattoli are exciting prospects.

I’ve cautiously jumped on the Bowman train in recent weeks. The move into defence has allowed him to get more ball & show what he can do. And he’s been impressive.

I think he could play either end - he does kinda remind me of a young Will Hayward.

 

[SeanM]

I think Bowman has improved during the year. Start of the season he looked quick but slightly built. He was mainly dangerous using his pace to get behind the defence. But as a young medium forward in a struggling team found it hard to get involved.

Initially he looked hesitant physically at the contest as though he expected he would be outmuscled. But you could see the improvement mid season with his tackling and willingess to compete for ground balls. He has also bulked up a little bit.

Recently I think it has been a good move for his development to play him in defence to get him more involved. If he has to mark an opponent, then he has to win aerial contests and scramble when the ball hits the ground. He has shown confidence to run with the ball knowing that he can outpace players. Also it gives him more possessions to work on his kicking or linking up with handballs.

 

[Callipygian]

I think Bowman's move to defence benefitted him because he was struggling to find the footy up forward (not all his fault, that's for sure). In defence he looked good but it's hard to say where he'll settle long-term. The comparisons with Howe (who started forward IIRC) and Hayward seem apt to me.

Anyway, Tom Harley has given him a big vote of confidence and that is super encouraging both for me and, presumably, for him.

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

What’s the verdict, the second coming of Tony Modra or a poor man’s Kai Lohmann ?

 

[bedford]

What’s the verdict, the second coming of Tony Modra or a poor man’s Kai Lohmann ?

Slow news day for you

 

[LukeParkerno1]

What’s the verdict, the second coming of Tony Modra or a poor man’s Kai Lohmann ?

Way too soon, ask the question at least mid season next year. If he's not showing signs by the end of next year there's questions to be asked.

 

[Ehswan]

Hopefully Bowman can show a bit. He doesn't have too many of his 'type' to compete with.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Was an injury away from maybe getting a game this year, being named as an emergency a few times.

Now he's been moved more into defence, it'll be interesting to see where he fits in if he gets AFL game time in 2026.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Was an injury away from maybe getting a game this year, being named as an emergency a few times.

Now he's been moved more into defence, it'll be interesting to see where he fits in if he gets AFL game time in 2026.

Hard to see him getting game time. Plenty of competition ahead of him.
In attack: Papley, Rosas*, Campbell, Lloyd, Cootee*, Corey
In defence: Wicks, Cunningham, Bice, Roberts, Snell*, Serong*, Andrew*
* = arguably
He will need to tear it up in Ressies to be offered another contract.

 

[joeykanga]

Hard to see him getting game time. Plenty of competition ahead of him.
In attack: Papley, Rosas*, Campbell, Lloyd, Cootee*, Corey
In defence: Wicks, Cunningham, Bice, Roberts, Snell*, Serong*, Andrew*
* = arguably
He will need to tear it up in Ressies to be offered another contract.

Ive liked this guy from when i first saw the draft videos. Im pretty sure Tom Harley had some nice things to say about him prior to his departure in a podcast somewhere. I get the impression they rate him internally at the club.

 

[tombomb]

Hard to see him getting game time. Plenty of competition ahead of him.
In attack: Papley, Rosas*, Campbell, Lloyd, Cootee*, Corey
In defence: Wicks, Cunningham, Bice, Roberts, Snell*, Serong*, Andrew*
* = arguably
He will need to tear it up in Ressies to be offered another contract.

Both he and Dattoli have already extended until the end of 2027.

 

[Callipygian]

I think he'll be contending for a run in our front half, not in our back half. We have greater depth down back.

Up forward Corey Warner, followed by Max King, are his closest contenders for that leaping medium forward vacated by Hayward, and surely he's a fair way in front of King right now. Of course the match committee may be content to go with a mix of talls and smalls and not bother about a medium for the time being but he offers something different and that should stand him in good stead sooner or later. Bowman didn't make a huge impression at VFL level up forward last year but with another pre-season (he looks like he's gained a fair bit of muscle) and a stronger midfield to win and feed him some ball, I think he'll improve significantly this season. The battle for a guernsey with Corey is an interesting one. Bowman is taller than Corey and hopefully has stronger goal sense but Corey has a higher leap, is more seasoned and is the stronger runner. I'm optimistic Bowman will get a couple of games up forward at some stage in 2026. It will take an injury for it to happen but over the course of a season that is a pretty fair chance. In the long run I think Bowman is more suited to the forward role than Warner - unless of course Bowman settles down back, where he may also shine with his strong intercepting and rebound.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Hard to see him getting game time. Plenty of competition ahead of him.
In attack: Papley, Rosas*, Campbell, Lloyd, Cootee*, Corey
In defence: Wicks, Cunningham, Bice, Roberts, Snell*, Serong*, Andrew*
* = arguably
He will need to tear it up in Ressies to be offered another contract.

I don’t think Andrew is ahead of anybody.

 

[dosser]

I think he'll be contending for a run in our front half, not in our back half. We have greater depth down back.

Up forward Corey Warner, followed by Max King, are his closest contenders for that leaping medium forward vacated by Hayward, and surely he's a fair way in front of King right now. Of course the match committee may be content to go with a mix of talls and smalls and not bother about a medium for the time being but he offers something different and that should stand him in good stead sooner or later. Bowman didn't make a huge impression at VFL level up forward last year but with another pre-season (he looks like he's gained a fair bit of muscle) and a stronger midfield to win and feed him some ball, I think he'll improve significantly this season. The battle for a guernsey with Corey is an interesting one. Bowman is taller than Corey and hopefully has stronger goal sense but Corey has a higher leap, is more seasoned and is the stronger runner. I'm optimistic Bowman will get a couple of games up forward at some stage in 2026. It will take an injury for it to happen but over the course of a season that is a pretty fair chance. In the long run I think Bowman is more suited to the forward role than Warner - unless of course Bowman settles down back, where he may also shine with his strong intercepting and rebound.

And yet every time I've heard staff or coaches commenting about him, they refer to him as a defender.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I don’t think Andrew is ahead of anybody.

As I said, arguably.

 

[Callipygian]

And yet every time I've heard staff or coaches commenting about him, they refer to him as a defender.

But they call him a "forward" on the club website:

 

[Adnico26Parker]

But they call him a "forward" on the club website:

I only learnt about this recently: the AFL and Champion Data run the player profiles on the club websites. (I might be years behind on this news!)

A few club websites have recently started to put this disclaimer on their pages: