Ned Bowman Draft Profile

NorwoodForward

#4

Ned Bowman

height: 186cm

weight:

D.O.B: 12-09-2006

Leagues: AFL U18 Championships

Snapshot
Analysis
Summary

SNAPSHOT: “A high-flying forward that knows how to find the goals and possesses plenty of x-factor” – Micah Hann

Ned Bowman set the Under 18 SANFL season alight with a must-see grab in Round 3 against the Woodville West-Torrens Eagles. The huge speckie garnered plenty of attention around the country and thrust Bowman into the spotlight. Good for nearly one of those a game, the exciting Norwood junior produced a number of mark of the year contenders across his 10 SANFL U18 games this season. In what was a challenging year for the Redlegs, Bowman was the club’s leading goalkicker, finishing with 18 majors despite splitting time up forward and on the wing.

Having earned the opportunity to represent South Australia at the National Championships, the medium forward showed flashes of brilliance. His most notable performance was a three-goal second half haul against Western Australia where he was named one of the Croweaters’ best in a tough loss to the Sandgropers.

After earning an invite to the AFL National Draft Combine, Bowman put in a solid performance across the board. He ran three-second flat 20m sprint and had a competitive showing in the 2km time trial, and agility testing. Ned is the son of 150-game Norwood legend and 1997 SANFL premiership player Lachlan Bowman.

PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS:

STRENGTHS:

+ Aerial ability
+ Athleticism
+ Goal sense
+ Speed
+ Upside
+ X-factor

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Accumulation
- Four-quarter consistency
- Strength

Bowman might have the best highlight package in this year’s AFL Draft. When given a clear run and jump, he’s capable of spectacular pack marks, plucking the ball out of the air with safe hands. Though his aerial exploits are eye-catching, his speed and willingness to take the game on are equally exciting to watch.

Whether it’s bouncing off half-back or streaming through forward 50, when Bowman decides to put the afterburners on there are few defenders that can reel him in. Although playing primarily as a forward and spending some time on the wing, it’s these traits that suggest he could develop into a role across half-back as an intercept and rebound defender.

Though better known for what he does in the air, Bowman is crafty when the ball hits the deck and can finish in a variety of ways with a high degree of difficulty. He has natural goal sense and doesn’t need much of a look to finish between the big sticks. He has proven to be a real x-factor inside forward 50 and doesn’t need a lot of opportunities to influence the outcome of a game. Throughout the season when opportunities inside 50 were limited, Bowman used his speed to separate from his opponent and work up the ground, presenting a leading target for his team coming out of defence.

Building strength, while retaining his top-end speed will be critical if Bowman is to make the leap to AFL football. Possessing a slighter frame, he can struggle at times to out-position his opponent in the marking contest, something that could present an even bigger challenge against more mature bodies. The added muscle would also help him at the contest and assist him to apply and finish tackles more consistently.

Team success eluded the young forward for much of the year, making it difficult for him to string together consistent four quarter performances. Bowman averaged a touch over 12 disposals per game, and though this was partly due to Norwood’s struggles throughout the year, Bowman would no doubt benefit from an increase in production.

DRAFT RANGE: Late/Rookie

SUMMARY

Bowman is a tough one to place amongst this year’s crop. There’s no doubt his pace, athleticism and x-factor are attractive traits for scouts, who are always on the look-out for good runners with breakaway speed. There’s genuine scope for him to fill a few different roles across all three lines at the next level, which will also be appealing. A club looking to chase a bit of upside later in the draft would do well to bring Bowman in, with the medium-forward potentially offering quite a bit of value.