Player Watch #8 James Rowbottom

[Kennedy Parker]

James Rowbottom

The Sydney Swans recruited James Rowbottom

8

James Rowbottom

Age

23

Ht

186cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.0

4star

K

8.1

3star

HB

5.9

4star

M

2.2

2star

T

4.3

5star

CL

2.0

4star

D

14.6

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

5.6

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

3.4

4star

CL

2.5

4star

D

14.4

4star

K

7.8

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.6

5star

CL

1.2

4star

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

8

James Rowbottom

Age

23

Ht

186cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.0

4star

K

8.1

3star

HB

5.9

4star

M

2.2

2star

T

4.3

5star

CL

2.0

4star

D

14.6

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

5.6

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

3.4

4star

CL

2.5

4star

D

14.4

4star

K

7.8

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.6

5star

CL

1.2

4star

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

James Rowbottom | AFL

Follow James Rowbottom's progress through AFL

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Every player has games where they are not primo. James had such a one on on Saturday.

He seemed to have the task of curbing Merrett. This clearly did not work with their skipper having a good game.

caesar88 makes the passionate case that Rowy is just no good at tagging and nullifying an opponent. It is difficult to argue with the case outlined by C88.

What I don’t get is why Rowy is incapable of fulfilling that role. He is disciplined, quick enough and elite at applying defensive pressure including tackles. With his skill set you’d think he’d be a quality tagger. Rowy should be a massive upgrade on the determined but D grade skill level Clamps. But he is not.

My issue with Rowy is not his wonderful defensive pressure which helps with the team getting turnovers but whether we have room for a player whose skills appear to begin and end at defensive pressure. Maybe we do and it is a new legit role in footy.

I say all this because Rowy is close to invisible in general play (to me anyway, see below) Outside of stoppages what is his role?

He certainly doesn’t pick up possessions in the chain or present as a target. Maybe he has been instructed to do Rowy ninja defensive things to allow our runners and distributors clear passage. He clearly struggled on Merrett. Won’t be the first or last to have his colours lowered.

Not being able to attend games anymore I cannot get a feel for the roles he is playing in offensive or defensive transition. The same applies to blokes like Wicks who I often see doing things on the periphery of the vision provided by broadcasters, but it is really hard to judge how he is going as well. It is frustrating and I rely on folk who get to the game to relay the info.

So I accept the limitations of what I see.

What I hear from the coach seems to be unequivocal. The intent is to run lots of skilled players through the mids and players need to be flexible. Lloyd spending more time up the ground is a case in point (I reckon fwiw that Jake is doing bloody well). This raises questions about Rowy’s future role. Is he capable of being flexible and playing a number of roles.

 

[Callipygian]

Did we all see Chad's comments in praise of Rowy? Said if he were starting up a new team, Rowy would be the first midfielder he would want to build the rest of the team around. https://www.afl.com.au/news/1090860...rise-selection-as-the-first-midfielder-picked

"If a new team was starting up and you could take one player with you, he would be my midfielder," Warner says. "I think he makes you so much better and makes all the boys around him ten times better. "He's such a great asset to have.

 

[ashep]

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Rowbottom: If I didn't play well I might not have ever got a look

James Rowbottom had always wanted to play AFL, but as he reveals in the next chapter of On the Mark, it was a single opportunity that changed the course of his career.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[Jewelsbon]

Rowbottom: If I didn't play well I might not have ever got a look

James Rowbottom had always wanted to play AFL, but as he reveals in the next chapter of On the Mark, it was a single opportunity that changed the course of his career.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

You're dead to me Rowie......

 

[Ticky009]

4 Yr deal on the table for Rowie. According to Twomey he is expected to sign as this will take him into Free Agency when it concludes.

 

[Kiama Chris]

4 Yr deal on the table for Rowie. According to Twomey he is expected to sign as this will take him into Free Agency when it concludes.

Perfect. As long as the $ and incentives are right it should be all systems go.

 

[Olian]

Deserved the long deal through to free agency, along with Heeney has been our most consistent midfielder this year.

 

[BloodySwan]

Massive! It's real clear how important he is to our midfield group. Great to have him locked away

 

[SwansProudly]

"It’s an honour to have the club put their faith in me for another four years. I love this club and I couldn’t imagine myself playing in any other colours, "Rowbottom said."

“We have a young group of impressive and committed players on our list. We felt like we took a big step forward last year, and we have enjoyed a solid start to 2024 already. I’m excited for what’s to come.”

Rowbottom signs on for four more

James Rowbottom will remain in red and white until at least the end of 2028, signing a four-year contract extension with the club.

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[Tedeski]

Gives his all.
True Blood!

 

[The King!]

Happy to see that
Good start to the year , let him off the leash a bit Horse

 

[tombomb]

View attachment 1948171
Deserved the long deal through to free agency, along with Heeney has been our most consistent midfielder this year.

I think it is fair to assume from that article that Gulden isn't far away either.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Happy to see that
Good start to the year , let him off the leash a bit Horse

Aye. Let him prove he is more than a specialist tackler and can be a dynamic for more than a quarter here and there.

Early in the second quarter v Tigers he had laid 7 tackles out of a team total of 14. He’d put in so much effort in the first half he all but disappeared in the second. Maybe his fitness base is not there for whatever reason.

Must say the word “massive” bothers me. I truly hope we are not paying significant overs for him. There are more crucial players to sign up.

 

[The King!]

Aye. Let him prove he is more than a specialist tackler and can be a dynamic for more than a quarter here and there.

Early in the second quarter v Tigers he had laid 7 tackles out of a team total of 14. He’d put in so much effort in the first half he all but disappeared in the second. Maybe his fitness base is not there for whatever reason.

Must say the word “massive” bothers me. I truly hope we are not paying significant overs for him. There are more crucial players to sign up.

Massive? where's it say that

We need Rowbottom, it's a good signing .

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Massive? where's it say that

We need Rowbottom, it's a good signing .

Post 708. McKirdy article

 

[Jewelsbon]

Must say the word “massive” bothers me. I truly hope we are not paying significant overs for him. There are more crucial players to sign up.

My lord talk about worrying over nothing, it's just a word!
We will never know how much he's being paid and need to trust that the club understands how the salary cap works and understands it's limitations.

 

[Citrus22]

Hard to believe his still only 23, he's shouldered so much of the physical load in the midfield over the past few years. Best still to come for him id say!

 

[Callipygian]

I let out a whoop of joy reading this news!

***

Incidentally, embedded in the article on the club website is a great video entitled

150 years: “Here it is!"​

I'd like to share it but can't figure out what the link is. It's sad, I know. I'm not even that old! Can anyone with a modicum of technical savvy help me figure out the link? Thanks.

 

[Millky95]

Absolutely love it

 

[Bonz]

I think it is fair to assume from that article that Gulden isn't far away either.

As it's paywalled, can you tell us what's mentioned about Gulden here?

 

[tombomb]

As it's paywalled, can you tell us what's mentioned about Gulden here?

'And his signing could be the first of many dominoes to fall as the Swans look to keep the core of their young nucleus together. Errol Gulden will likely be the next major priority, with the Swans going back and forth on the details of his deal for the best part of a month.'

 

[Bonz]

'And his signing could be the first of many dominoes to fall as the Swans look to keep the core of their young nucleus together. Errol Gulden will likely be the next major priority, with the Swans going back and forth on the details of his deal for the best part of a month.'

Thank you

 

[ashep]

Hell yeah. Might not be as big a name as Errol or Logan, but just as critical to get him locked away.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

Rowbottom has proven his importance to the team. Particularly in the absence of mills/Parker. He's been carrying the mantle well and will have a bit more room to attack when Parker/Adams return. He's been covering the enforcer role well in the absence of more senior players.

Btw. Wonder if Gulden's form dip has factored into the figures being tabled?