Rumour Bower the CHB

[blue gunslinger]

Classic WA boy- overachieves. So yes even I may doubt him but I did before he was drafted, as a rookie and since. You never know when it comes to the Bowerbandwagon

 

[Silvagnis]

Oh' Hello,

This bloke will never stand CHB.

He is a running 6'2,
and it seems pretty obvious.

The negative group are out in force tonight what paf back online and preaching gloom and doom.

 

[blue gunslinger]

Not negative me/ Love Bower but am patient so he will find his correct spot. If you mismatch him he will get spanked.

 

[thegreenmachine]

Oh' Hello,

This bloke will never stand CHB.

He is a running 6'2,
and it seems pretty obvious.

Your opinion is something that anyone is entitled to, but you're writing him off for a KPD spot you say. So certain stints in a key defensive position last year weren't pretty obvious to the eye?
As I have stated, maybe not this year, but sometime in the future one here thinks, and one here still stands by what he has said.
Or maybe you saw something that you didn't like that I might not have no?
Please inform me if I've missed anything here.

 

[branedotorg]

i think in the midfield his lack of awareness running with the ball could really hurt. he's a lovely player but in mymind seems to play on & get caught from behind frequently. he'll either grow out of that or playing as a CHB will keep it from changing a game too much

 

[Silvagnis]

Not negative me/ Love Bower but am patient so he will find his correct spot. If you mismatch him he will get spanked.

What would be a mismatch in light of Bower adding more leg muscle to his once skinny frame?

One of yonniboy's 2009 training pictures.

Link for fullsized picture

And Bower playing on Buddy, Bradshaw and Cloke last year?

Cloke is approx. 197 cms and close to 100 kgs, yet Bower pantsed him and ran off him all day in round four.

Cloke didn't apply any defensive pressure in that match.

Buddy kicked just four goals on Bower the week before he kicked eight on Lake.

Tall, quick and brave makes Bower a good young defender when he can spoil and run off his man.

SOS is another defender who had a strange running gait...

 

[thegreenmachine]

Well on the AFL website he's listed as 192cms and 90kgs. And you're just confirming my thoughts TG on that last post, he's played on bigger blokes like Cloke and Franklin, with Cloke he won that battle easily and with Buddy he at least got even with him, not to mention the fact that in both those matches he had 20 and 18 possessions respectively as a key defender.
And when we have a look at some established defenders they are listed as being:
Harry Taylor (Geel) 193cms, 91kgs
Michael Pettigrew (Port) 193cms, 92kgs
Sam Fisher (StK) 191cms, 88kgs
Darren Glass (WCE) 192cms, 95kgs
Simon Prestigiacomo (Coll) 193cms, 96kgs
And not to mention there are several forwards who are of similar build.
The thing as well is, Bower has the talent to perhaps eclipse these names. Let's just keep an open mind, but I am making predictions, not statements or facts, which I feel will happen and will be proven to be 100% correct, which the majority of my the time I am.

 

[Faz 2000]

He was All-Australian CHB as a junior, so there's no reason to think he doesn't have the potential to be the same at senior level.

I definitely think he's a player for now and into the future as one of the key 2-3 defenders in our backline.

As for the concept of him playing in the midfield -> no. Nothing I've seen from him suggests he has the slightest capacity to play in traffic, to be good in close, to be strong off both sides, to have fast hands, to have any of the skills needed to make it in the midfield. Kouta was a freak, you won't see another one any time soon, so stop looking. Bower has the tools to be a really good KPD, so let's hope he keeps developing into that.

 

[40yearBLUE]

He was All-Australian CHB as a junior, so there's no reason to think he doesn't have the potential to be the same at senior level.

I definitely think he's a player for now and into the future as one of the key 2-3 defenders in our backline.

As for the concept of him playing in the midfield -> no. Nothing I've seen from him suggests he has the slightest capacity to play in traffic, to be good in close, to be strong off both sides, to have fast hands, to have any of the skills needed to make it in the midfield. Kouta was a freak, you won't see another one any time soon, so stop looking. Bower has the tools to be a really good KPD, so let's hope he keeps developing into that.

I agree Kouta was a freak but only in that he was one of the first Athlete footballers and became a prototype for the perfect utility player. I dont think I agree that another wont be along soon. On the contrary, Kouta would have inspired a generation of bigger bodied kids to try to learn and perfect the one had pick up and raise both hands in the tackle to get the handpass off etc, to be athletic and to base their game around fitness, spring etc. The smaller players already use fitness but the bigger bodies use strength and size in their formative years, Kouta showed another way.
Also dont forget Kouta played 50 odd reserve games before getting promoted so a player does not have to walk staight into the top 22 after arriving to have the potential that Kouta had and fulfilled.
There will be more Kouta's and a lot sooner than you might think.

 

[Faz 2000]

I totally agree that Kouta paved the way for athlete-footballers... and that's the thing. He was a clear step above his contemporaries as an athletic specimen.

Kouta NOW would not be so far ahead because as you say, bigger, stronger and faster guys are joining the league.

My thoughts are that you won't get a guy dominating like Kouta did by being *that* far ahead physically any time soon. Franklin would be the only one going around at the moment who has anything like that physical dominance.

In reference to Bower, as great as it is that he's reasonably athletic, he's in no way a "stand-out" like Kouta was or Franklin is.

 

[1981]

From what I have heard, Bower was very good in the last intra club game, beating everyone he was on at CHB.

And I agree he was certainly starting to look good when he got hurt last year.

I think he is the goods. Whether he ends up at CHB or not I'm not sure, but one way or the other I think there's a huge chance he will end up a long serving defender for us.

 

[blue gunslinger]

I think time will tell
The lad is young and developing fast. Give him time to find his place, but the back line is a good crucible for now.

 

[thegreenmachine]

Just remember when Bower becomes AA CHB down the track, I said it first.

 

[blue gunslinger]

Versatility is the key. He is not Sexton. With the backline we are developing we can mix and match depending on opponent.
Wish SOS was coaching them however

 

[thegreenmachine]

Round 4: Played on Buddy Franklin, kicked 2.1, his 2 goals coming in around a 10 minute burst in the last quarter, otherwise he was virtually completely shut out of the contest, and that is saying something.
Round 5: Played on Pavlich, kept him scoreless.
All while providing some dash and getting the ball himself. Now stats mean jack shit to me (except for DT and SC purposes) but I would like to mention he got more of the ball than Pav (and I believe Buddy as well).
Feel free to update his progress as the year progresses.

 

[NWTYRX]

Yep, done a good job in the past 2 weeks. And, I'd imagine he'd get first crack at Anthony next week

 

[thylacine60]

His major downside for playing CHB is that he gets rag-dolled by monster forwards. He just has to bulk up Mal Michael style and I'm not sure his frame is up to it.

 

[blues4flag]

Did well enough against Franklin (who is admittedly out of form) and Pavlich, who aren't tiny themselves - only two of the games premier players. Reckon he has the attributes to go with Nick Reiwoldt too. Has great closing speed and as such will do well on the lead up forwards, which most CHFs are.

 

[thylacine60]

Fair call but let's face it - I for one would think twice before taking on a 100kilo marauding emu!

 

[thegreenmachine]

You make some good points thy and I look forward to seeing Emu getting bigger but as far as a hulking defender goes, that may go to someone else. We could do with someone to play on the Browns and Rougheads and it beats having T-Bird on those guys.
Austin looks a nice enough size ATM for his age, you could say it all depends on how things eventuate and whether he plays forward or back as time goes by.

 

[gbatman]

He just needs to fill out and he could be just about all australian CHB. He was recruites as a CHB for that role and he's progressing well. He's going to be very good. He's already good. Considering he had a poor start to the year, it was just tactical and confidence problems he's done exceptionally good.

 

[pumped]

Think Bower is one of the positives of the season for us. Whilst he looks chaotic in his movements he rarely gets caught and rarely turns it over. He is perhaps one of the most composed in the side. Also think that he is capable of playing on most opposition forwards.

 

[parrot]

Thought he's been great this year. He's a naturally attacking defender who has added a lot to his defensive game this year. I like the way he attacks the ball with real intensity, and has that element of unpredictability that leaves the opposition (and his team-mates) guessing what he'll do next. He has the courage to take the opposition on and go for the high-risk high-reward option. It's a fantastic attribute and shows that he's not only got talent, but also belief in his ability. The best young defender in the AFL? Can't think of anyone better.

 

[thegreenmachine]

IMHO he's been our best defender this year parrot. KPP are not as easy to find, or grow on trees as running flankers. They are also very important to a team's structure.
It seems crystal clear that Waite and Thornton are better when released from the key position roles and can use their creativity. Bower is strong enough to play on most opponents and if he can get a tad bigger over time, he could just about be a complete key defender, with strength and power complementing his athleticism.
Dare I say he has Moore potential than a certain Richmond fullback who has reached his prime as a footballer.

 

[thegreenmachine]

Guys, I like people telling jokes and like to tell jokes every now and then myself.
But it's time to be serious hey? Austin and Bower are going to be our future. Our defence from almost now on, as far as the key position stocks, will consist of Austin, Bower and Jamison. Where each play will be interesting as well.
I'm bumping this thread to tell you the way it is people. Please do not mention anything about Aussie and Bower not being up to it or trading/delisting them blah blah, they're getting better and better, and will continue to do so.