Noise grows around Grammar shy guy
AS he faced the daunting task of packing up his life in Swan Hill two years ago, Thomson Dow was sure he was not moving to Geelong.
The midfielder was welcome to board at Geelong Grammar, but as a shy teenager, he was not interested.
After considering it, a change of mind meant Dow relented and moved to the school, where his older brother Paddy also went, a move that would set his path towards the AFL.
“It was a pretty big step and to start with I was adamant I didn’t want to go down to Geelong,” he said.
“Then all of a sudden I changed my mind and it’s been unreal down at Grammar, I’m so glad I went.
“Definitely moving to Geelong has helped my footy excel, not only footy but my education and friendship group as well.”
The younger Dow brother has been conscious of following in the footsteps of the Carlton midfielder since his junior football and initially spurned any comparison between the two.
Although Dow has used Paddy — who was drafted to the Blues with the third overall pick in 2017 — as a sounding board through his schooling and football with Grammar and Bendigo Pioneers, he has worked to make his own name.
“I tried to forge my own path where I can because as always there are comparisons, so it’s nice to get out of the spotlight of (Paddy),” he said.
“Early days back in the juniors I used to hate it and never liked the comparison, but now I’m well aware it’s going to happen.
“It’s always nice to have him there to talk to, but the comparisons have become a normal thing, so I’m not really bothered any more.”
An explosive midfielder capable of breaking out of congestion, Dow played in four games for Vic Country during the national championships during the year.
In study he has gravitated towards business and hopes to take up a commerce degree at university around his football.
Dow’s teammates during that carnival and at Grammar, Brodie Kemp and Caleb Serong, were inseparable during their school years and all appear likely to be linked once again when they have their names called on November 27.
“We’ve become really good friends between all three of us,” Dow said.
“We do everything together at school and it’s a bit of a joke amongst our mates that we do everything together all the time.”