Jack jumps at chance to be midfield asset
JACK Bowes is fast becoming the tall, big bodied midfielder Gold Coast have been crying out for and the developing talent is relishing the role.
The Suns have struggled to match up against modernday tall midfielders like Nat Fyfe in the past but Bowes combined with Brayden Fiorini to combat Fremantle’s greatest weapon in their three-point win against the Dockers at the weekend.
The Brownlow medallist still had an impact on the game but Bowes just about matched him in the middle of the ground.
The 187cm 21-year-old is now spending most of his time in the midfield, complementing contested-ball bull David Swallow and shorter ball winners like Anthony Miles and Touk Miller.
It has given the Suns a more balanced midfield group and one that can restrict the influence of players like Fyfe, who is 191cm.
“It was awesome going up against (Fyfe),” Bowes said.
“He is a big boy. That is what you want to do as a young player, go in there and go up against the best and test yourself and see where you are at as a football player.
“He is a great player and highly respected.
“He still had his impact but hopefully our midfield collectively did a job on him to win the battle.
“It helps as a midfield group having a bit of balance with height and a few smaller boys like Touk and Milesy who are in-and-under and can help out us taller, leaner boys there.
“We can all play our role and we know what we are doing out there.
“I obviously respect Fyfe highly. I have watched him my whole career and he is one the players looked up to. I loved going up against him.”
As the Suns prepare to play the Bulldogs in Melbourne on Sunday, coach Stuart Dew said Bowes was on the path to becoming an even greater contributor.
“He has the right attitude, he is building his body for AFL footy and certainly has the temperament and professionalism,” Dew said.
“They are hard to match up, even with (Fremantle midfielder David) Mundy, there are a couple of centre half-forwards in there who move really well.”