Paul Bower

[NFI Police]

Just after some thoughts around this guy..hardly been mentioned

He is rookie priced and has scored 62 & 93. Just wondering about when Jamison comes back his job security for one and whether that would free him up some more...

[23rookie23]

Thats the BIG question.

Will he be dropped for jammo and Duigan?

If he stays in then he could be another S Martin but he has a good chance of being dropped for them as well.

If you have him then your laughing but if not I would wait to see if he is named in the team with the likes of jamo and duigan.

[DazBurg]

had him in my team in preseason but wasn't sure of JS either so upgraded him to birchall so i cant really complain  :)

[bluedreamin]

With the Blues playing the way they are they will be in no hurry to rush Jamo or Duigan back in.

[tor01doc]

Don't touch him.

JS about as healthy as Brisbane's forward line.

[phiz3]

Duigan will come in for Russel

Jamo in for Armfield/Touey

I think Bower JS is a little better than people think.
Also if he is getting back into form after all his injuries, then carlton would be mad to drop him.
A few years ago he was the first carlton defender picked. And after last night, he could well be again soon.

Jamo is a full back, not a rebounding defender. different role to the one Bower plays.
Duigan plays a similar role, but can play small as well so i think a russel/armfield or touey would make way before Bower.

Just my thoughts. That being said, I dont have bower.

Am seriously considering burning one of ellis/morris next week to get him.

:)

[sid3bysid3]

It's him or laidlaw and I'd say the latter is more valuable to them

[quinny88]

he played one ok game against a team they beat by 90 points.. big deal.
he'll get the ass soon as injured players are back

[lozmeister]

He played a good game last night and certainly his performances have not hurt his chances at being retained.  I particularly liked the way he pushed up the ground and didn't stay locked in the 50m defensive zone.

It is risky, although I do believe that Bower's JS is slightly better than people think.  Ratten has already said that he will not rush in Duigan or Jamison.  Plus, as a cashcow, you really only need Bower to string together 7 or so games.  If he doesn't end up playing regularly early in the season, perhaps this just means that he is one of the last defensive "rookies" to "ripen", ie. I imagine most people will want to cash out Ellis and/or Morris before the Rnd 13 bye anyway.

IMHO I see Russell (who has worn the green and orange vest in the first two games) coming out for Jamison (being a simple reversal of when Russell came in as a late replacement for Jamison in Rnd 24 last year).