Jack Bowes is the first Queensland junior in a decade to be selected in the top 10 of the national draft
JACK Bowes was rated by most recruiters among the best four players in the draft. But, in a huge win, the Suns snapped him up with pick 10.
JACK Bowes has become the first Queenslander in a decade and the only graduate from the state’s two AFL academies to be selected in the top 10 of the national draft.
Brisbane were celebrating on Friday night after their preferred player, goal kicking midfielder Hugh McLuggage, slipped to pick three and was snatched by the Lions.
Bowes said he was honoured to break a Queensland drought and said he hoped his achievement could inspire other young players from the Sunshine State.
DRAFT RE-CAP: EVERY PICK IN THE 2016 NATIONAL DRAFT
JACK BOWES: YOUNG QUEENSLANDER WITH A BIG FUTURE
“The stats show it doesnt happen too often and I am really proud to be a part of that,’’ he said.
“Hopefully I can be a good role model for other blokes coming through Queensland footy to follow, someone they can look up to.
“Hopefully there is plenty more to come.’’
Bowes was the subject of a bid by the Sydney Swans with pick 10 which the Suns had to match, pushing their pick 11 one place up the order.
Bowes was rated by most recruiters as among the best four players in the draft but given the Suns held four selections in the top 10, most rival clubs realised the futility of placing a bid.
It allowed the Suns to let Bowes slide to pick 10 and they chose Ben Ainsworth (4), Jack Scrimshaw (7) and Will Brodie (9) with their first picks.
Bowes is the latest success story from a Queensland academy after Eric Hipwood was chosen by the Lions at pick 14 last year and went on to impress in his debut season.
Bowes, a 2016 All Australian and the captain of Queensland in this year’s under-18 carnival, is tall for a midfielder at 188cm, has great kicking skills and, according to AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan, has “an excellent combination of speed and endurance” and is “composed under pressure’’.
Bowes paid credit to the academy system saying although he believed he would still have made it onto an AFL list, the Suns academy had significantly increased his chances.
“I would like to think it would,’’ he said.
“But it has definitely had a massive influence on myself and my family.
‘If it wasn’t there it would have been so much harder.’’
Bowes became only the fifth Queenslander in 30 years to go in the top 10 and the first since Mackay product David Armitage, who was called with pick nine by St Kilda in 2006.
Tom Williams who went to the Bulldogs with pick six in 2004, David Hale taken at pick seven in 2001 by the Kangaroos, and St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt, the state’s only No.1 selection in 2000, are the others.
Coach Rodney Eade said Bowes gave the Suns a ready-made player who already knew the way he wanted the side to play and had also developed professional habits.
He said the 18-year-old had impressed everyone at the club with his values and professionalism.
“I first became aware of him last year but didn’t know the extent of how good he could potentially be until this year,’’ he said.
“Not only because he made the decision to move from Cairns which showed his commitment, but also to take his game to another level in the carnival to be, what we consider, in the top three players in the draft.
“Then the way he acquitted himself in our NEAFL side has been exceptional, there is no reason he can’t push for round one selection.’’
Originally published as Jack Bowes is the first Queensland junior in a decade to be selected in the top 10 of the national draft