State pride drives Bowes to be best
COURTNEY WALSH
WHILE Matt Rowell is indisputably the new face of football on the Gold Coast, Jack Bowes is representative of the type of talent Suns executives are banking will become its soul.
A homegrown hopeful. A role model to the next generation of Queensland players. One who can demonstrate the opportunities Australian rules football provides.
And Bowes is off to a great start. The Cairns-raised footballer will step out for his 47th match against Geelong on Saturday having established himself on the Gold Coast.
Travelling for the first time this season, the Suns are sitting second and go into the match with three wins in succession.
“It is really exciting to get those wins on the board early on,” Bowes said. “Obviously being such a young team, we are starting to build our belief and our confidence.”
Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans recently lauded the inroads the Suns and Brisbane Lions had made over the past decade in growing the game through Queensland.
Participation numbers have jumped from 100,000 a decade ago to 290,000. Entries in a state schools competition have risen by more than 300 per cent in five years.
Evans predicted the increase in matches would provide exposure and a chance to grow the AFL further.
This opportunity grew significantly on Friday with news six Victorian clubs were to be relocated to Queensland as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
Bowes, drafted into a Suns academy at 13, said it was clear there was growing interest.
“That has been there for 10 years or so now and it has really started to grow,” he said.
“Participation numbers have been growing through the roof in Queensland, especially with the AFLW coming in.”
But he knows there is no substitute for success.
“What is going to get us more support and fans is us winning more matches and being more competitive,” he said. “Hopefully the Gold Coasters and the Queensland community can get on board and get behind us.”
The Suns have been faster and stronger for longer than their rivals in recent weeks.
“There is also that saying in footy that when you are winning the ball, you are saving your legs as well,” Bowes said.
The 22-year-old is adept at manning up on champions.
He was thrust into the midfield last year and tasked with stopping Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe and Carlton captain Patrick Cripps, among others.
The drafting of Rowell and recruitment of Hugh Greenwood from Adelaide has bolstered the Suns midfield stocks and coach Stuart Dew opted to deploy Bowes across half-back.
The No.10 pick in the 2016 draft demonstrated how influential he could be in a preseason encounter against the Cats when restricting Gary Ablett to eight touches.
The task will be tougher should Bowes man Ablett on Saturday.
The dual-Brownlow medallist is playing his 350th game, while Geelong skipper Joel Selwood will play his 300th.
“Having Gary here in my first year, he helped me out a lot, on and off the field with my footy,” Bowes said.
“I have enjoyed watching his career as it has unfolded. We are really looking forward to getting down there.”