18 hours ago, durango said:

Maybe he will win the Rising Star Medal next year since he will be under the age limit and games limit.

His games have been excellent for his age and the fact that he played virtually no football last year but probably has been helped by Mark Williams and the fact that he was slowly brought along at Casey and not rushed into the team to fill holes in the team.

Most times young players get games gifted because they are high draft picks and rushed into the team before they are ready al la Jack Watts.

Fully expect he will win the Rising Star.   Just so composed when he gets the ball. Knows what he intends to do with the ball and proceeds to implement that.  Will play 200 games absolutely no doubt . He is a ripper !

47 minutes ago, Mach5 said:

I find it incredible that Bowey wasn’t more highly rated pre-draft.

I know he’s not of great stature, but he has excellent skills, excellent balance, excellent decision making and poise. He knows what he’s doing with the footy before he gets it in his hands. Like all the greats, he’s incredibly clean with the footy and his disposals are usually so quick, clean and decisive that the opposition has scant opportunity to stop it.
I’m delirious that we’ve unearthed another gem and can’t wait to see how his career progresses. I really don’t think the Sam Mitchell comparison was hyperbole.

We can probably thank Covid for that.

Had there been no covid, he would have been top age for Sandy Dragons (and dominating) and also representing Vic Metro. I have no doubt this was a blessing in disguise for us. Can also add Bailey Laurie to that also who was highly rated as well in his underage year.

I have no doubt that based purely on his football ability and form, Bowey would have easily been a top 10-15 selection.

A good time now to revisit that trade to work out if we 'won' it: 

Brisbane traded: 18 (21 Bowey), 19 (22 Laurie), 2021 second round (33, likely down 3-4 spots) = 2496 points (original value)

Melbourne traded: 2021 17 or 18 (likely down 2 spots), 25 (academy bid from Collingwood on Blake Coleman at 24), 68, 69 (pushed up to 48 to take Henry Smith, a ruckman) = 2083 points (value as 17 and 48). 

If you do a little bit of creative accounting, you can make a call that Brissy wasn't that bent over using draft points as a metric (e.g., 2206 v 1999 with 'final' values) and roughly 21, 22 and 37 for 20, 24 and 48 doesn't look too bad for them, but they would really want to make sure they pick the lights out of this pick they have because we nailed it with Bowey. 

And we have a Laurie to come!

23 hours ago, bananas said:

Anybody else get strong "Christian Salem 2.0" vibes from Bowey? Composed, precise skills, and goes a lot harder than he looks.

Imagine having two of 'em!

add tot he fact he played his junior footy as a fwd/mid and has only moved back this year

On 9/12/2021 at 11:22 AM, bananas said:

Anybody else get strong "Christian Salem 2.0" vibes from Bowey? Composed, precise skills, and goes a lot harder than he looks.

Imagine having two of 'em!

Actually, I think it's more a James Hird vibe. Like Hird, Bowey seems to know what he's going to do with the ball before he gets it. It means that he already know who's around him before he's got the ball, what he plans to do once he has it, and he also has the skill to execute. Very few players I have seen are like this. 

By contrast, Petracca is more like Pendelbury and Dustin Martin in that he appears to have more time than most to decide what to do once he has the ball and then executes beautifully.

Two different styles, both highly effective.  

4 hours ago, Mach5 said:

I find it incredible that Bowey wasn’t more highly rated pre-draft.

I know he’s not of great stature, but he has excellent skills, excellent balance, excellent decision making and poise. He knows what he’s doing with the footy before he gets it in his hands. Like all the greats, he’s incredibly clean with the footy and his disposals are usually so quick, clean and decisive that the opposition has scant opportunity to stop it.
I’m delirious that we’ve unearthed another gem and can’t wait to see how his career progresses. I really don’t think the Sam Mitchell comparison was hyperbole.

It's the same modset that saw Sam Mitchel go through the 2000 draft I think and langish at Box Hill before being taken with a late-ish in 2001.

Pidgeon-holed as too short

Moneyball springs to mind...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-16/afl-melbourne-demons-jake-bowey-journey-to-grand-final/100463912

A good read!

I have been watching a replay of Rnd 23 vs Cats ( because I can ok).  It is character building.

2nd quarter Bowey gets stripped of the ball in a Danger tackle and they both go to ground.  Bowey gets up immediately and runs to the next contest which turns into a stoppage.  Danger is still on the ground.

Danger is obviously a better player than Bowey but there is much to be said for the reflexes and attitude of youth.

Jake Bowey's new nickname is JYD....... JUNK YARD DAWG!🤩

Is this the best ever first seven games - well done Jake Bowie.?💕❤️💙

16 minutes ago, DeeZone said:

Is this the best ever first seven games - well done Jake Bowie.?💕❤️💙

Yeah well done JYD!!

http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/tinytoons/images/0/07/Arnold_Strange_Tales_of_Weird_Science._Flexing.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140421052713

Edited October 14, 20213 yr by picket fence

1 hour ago, Jontee said:

I have been watching a replay of Rnd 23 vs Cats ( because I can ok).  It is character building.

2nd quarter Bowey gets stripped of the ball in a Danger tackle and they both go to ground.  Bowey gets up immediately and runs to the next contest which turns into a stoppage.  Danger is still on the ground.

Danger is obviously a better player than Bowey but there is much to be said for the reflexes and attitude of youth.

I think you need to stop living in the past @Jontee.

His best attribute is execution of skills under pressure, not something a lot  of players possess 

On 9/13/2021 at 12:29 PM, jnrmac said:

It's the same modset that saw Sam Mitchel go through the 2000 draft I think and langish at Box Hill before being taken with a late-ish in 2001.

Pidgeon-holed as too short

Moneyball springs to mind...

Mitchell was on the shorter side for a midfielder but his biggest problem was lack of speed. He more than made up for it by a super footballing brain and then the best dual sided player I've seen in my time closely watching footy. (Or possibly equal to Aker). He maximised his skills and smarts to more than make up for his deficits. 

I wasn't overly impressed when I first saw Bowey because he was playing on the wing and the lack of height worries me for wingers in the way we (and most teams) play. Gus Brayshaw showed the benefit for a taller winger all year and in the grand final. And whilst Bowey had played some forward as well I wasn't super impressed by his highlights in that role. He looked a bit reluctant to get involved and didn't really have major advantages over defenders.

As soon as Jason Taylor said they'd start him down back I was far more impressed by the pick. That's where his cool head and disposal was going to be of most value. His highlights showed a natural ability to run to receive the ball, pace and a leap to close forwards and smart players are always valuable down back.

I don't think other clubs used a top 20 pick on him because they wouldn't have seen that possibility for him. Zippy small forward without the amazing pressure skills of someone like Koz or even the ball winning of Spargo, that's probably not a player who goes top 20.

The vision to see him as a defender, the coaching to train his defensive skills up (from a fairly low base early in the year to more than adequate at AFL level) and of course Jake for doing the work all deserve a heap of praise. 

 

 

On 9/13/2021 at 7:31 AM, Mach5 said:

I find it incredible that Bowey wasn’t more highly rated pre-draft.

I know he’s not of great stature, but he has excellent skills, excellent balance, excellent decision making and poise. He knows what he’s doing with the footy before he gets it in his hands. Like all the greats, he’s incredibly clean with the footy and his disposals are usually so quick, clean and decisive that the opposition has scant opportunity to stop it.
I’m delirious that we’ve unearthed another gem and can’t wait to see how his career progresses. I really don’t think the Sam Mitchell comparison was hyperbole.

Looks like we can add running power to that, pretty elite company he is in considering his first preseason.

Top-five most distance covered per game in 2021
Ed Langdon, 15.30km
Christian Salem, 14.20km
Alex Neal-Bullen, 13.88km
Clayton Oliver, 13.61km
Jake Bowey, 13.33km

38 minutes ago, dworship said:

Looks like we can add running power to that, pretty elite company he is in considering his first preseason.

Top-five most distance covered per game in 2021
Ed Langdon, 15.30km
Christian Salem, 14.20km
Alex Neal-Bullen, 13.88km
Clayton Oliver, 13.61km
Jake Bowey, 13.33km

Can’t see this kid losing his spot in the side. Skill, running ability and a serious competitive streak.

Awwww😏...

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1775247/in-focus-jake-bowey

melbournefc.com.au

In Focus | Jake Bowey

Jake Bowey opens up on family, footy and finding perspective with a furry new housemate.

Edited Wednesday at 12:082 days by Timothy Reddan-A'Blew

Must be getting close to AA conversation

Love it!

11 hours ago, Stiff Arm said:

Must be getting close to AA conversation

Love it!

Should be, but will probably continue to be underrated by non-MFC supporting folk.

It's clear that shoulder injury impacted his form.

Some players get a serious injury and bounce right back.

Others understandably so, lose confidence. Perhaps fear of it happening again or reinjuring it.

One could lose confidence in their invincibility and in the back of their mind not necessarily stop them from going hard but certainly it could give a little hesitation.

He's gone from people here calling for his head back To AA form and hasn't it made a difference.

May and Lever used to be our most important defenders and Salo.

The latter was great last week but I'd argue Disco and Bowser are now our best.

I feel sorry for Tmac. It could be a case of Tomlinson all over again if he's not back soon.

Although is Lever injured again? He does seem to get a few these days.

It's great to see previous greats back in form.

Especially Oliver. His best game for ages.

I mean on paper this team is as good as any. With a lot of younger players getting better. We have some decent depth.

I'm hoping Jvr gets amongst them and Jeffo. But I feel conflicted about dropping AJ.

In our current form we should easily account for St Kilda. I hope we're not over confident