Is bowes a top 6-8 defender season end?
I think it's likely. Ticks multiple boxes. Been building towards for a couple of years. Taking kick-ins and the primary rebounder and has a natural talent to get space behind and sideways of the ball (call it Lloyding). Also has a bit of intercept skill though it's not going to prop up his scoring.
Team is solid enough to cause the ball to come in under a bit of pressure but nowhere near good enough to stop it coming in at high volume.
Right now I think you've got the following down back:
Likely 105+ Group
Ridley - Kick-ins, intercept marking and primary rebounder with last year as support of scoring history.
Lloyd - Kick-ins, primary rebound, elite seagulling with elite scoring history.
Mills - #1 midfielder in what looks to be a good team.
Laird - #1 midfielder in what looks to be a competitive team.
100-105 Group
Short - Kick-ins, primary rebounder, strong start, good history of being close. Houli factor is why I didn't put him above.
Bowes - Kick-ins, primary rebounder, very strong start, building history and some intercept skills. Lack of proven scoring the reason he's not above.
Houston - Strong start and has scored in all roles so far this year. His history of struggling when thrown around in roles the question mark here but there's little doubt the rule changes suit him.
Docherty - Kick-ins, primary rebounder, decent start with good scoring history. Saad cannibal and recent history the issue (and durability).
Stewart - Kick-ins, intercept role and primary rebounder though all shared to a greater extent than Ridley and solid history.
Potential 100+ Group
Rich - Been close before, rule changes suit, kick-ins and primary rebounder. Inconsistency historically is the issue but I personally would be he's going to do it this year.
Jiath - Very strong start. Complete unknown outside that. Personal bet would be against.
B. Smith - Has really clicked over the past couple of weeks to how much the rules suit him and reckon he could give it a shake (wouldn't back it).
C. Daniel - Perhaps not for the season at this point, but for the rest of the season definitely a good chance still. 2 straight years of doing it the real case for him.
Crisp - His midfield role probably just grew further. Uncertainty if that's actually a good thing for him though.
Sholl/Lever/Hardwick/Moore/Howard - The guys who are close right now but I think are all logical to fall back a bit but have to at least be mentioned.
Howe - Will build fitness as the season progresses after no preseason and has been averaging 95 anyway and was hurt significantly by the rain on the weekend to drop below. Strong upgrade target for mine and I think he probably does it. Durability a big issue though.
H. Clark - Seemed to get unsettled the past couple of weeks by the midfield and then non-midfield switch, settled back in nicely across half back, reckon the rule changes suit him very well also. Not backing him to do it but he's a chance still with his talent level.
Ryan - Have to mention after last year, will be watching closely, has looked out of shape so far to me but like Howe, that will improve as he stays fit. Not sure if injuries hurt or help at this point.
There's probably a couple of other guys who are chances (Hurn for example) that I haven't named but basically think it's a very strong group and I expect the D6 number to be around 105 this year, the rule changes have certainly aided the HB types so far and with two legit #1 midfielders in there it also pumps it up significantly.
