Jack’s back on his well-trodden home track
JACK Bowes could not help feeling nostalgic.
The Gold Coast Suns midfielder was back in the Far North yesterday, delivering clinics to young aspiring footballers, something he was just over a decade ago.
Bowes, who attended St Augustine’s College, led clinics at St Joseph’s School and Griffiths Park, where he played his junior footy at Cairns Saints, as part of the Suns Community Camp. It was a fellow AFL Cairns product that Bowes’ remembers leading clinics for him when he was learning the game.
“It is funny now,” Bowes said with a smile. “I still remember Courtenay Dempsey coming out to my school one time – they are fond memories. I remember when I was playing Auskick and we had people coming out doing clinics.
“It is a bit surreal for me now going back to schools and footy clinics and giving back to the Cairns footy community. As long as I can do my little bit and hopefully inspire a few kids, it would be great.”
Manunda Hawks junior Jarrod Harbrow also visited schools in the region yesterday. The Far North pair are in town until tomorrow before Bowes returns to the Gold Coast to try to stake his claims for a spot in the Round 1 side.
He gets his final chance on March 9 against the Western Bulldogs in the third JLT community series game.
Bowes has worked hard all summer to reach 80kg and has grown a few centimetres, too.
“It is only going to get quicker and much more intense as the pre-season goes on and into the home and away season,” Bowes said.
“I am not trying to look too far ahead, just trying to take it one step at a time. I just need to tick the boxes at training.”
Harbrow’s first match will likely be in a NEAFL trial following rehab on his ankle.
■ Meanwhile, the Suns will enter the season without a CEO or COO after the shock resignations Andrew Travis and Paul Pamenter.