Opinion
Generally when we hear about the best young midfielders in the competition, we hear about players like Sam Walsh, Bailey Smith and Matt Rowell.
But one who is consistently overlooked is James Rowbottom.
He was taken at pick 25 in 2018 AFL draft. At the time he was seen as a very good inside midfielder who could find his own footy as well as someone who could tackle relentlessly, but with significant improvement needed in his endurance and kicking.
James Rowbottom looked like a potentially risky pick for clubs. But the Swans saw the upside in him and saw an opportunity to get a steal. They completed a smart trade on draft night where they traded a second-round pick for a future third-round pick, then after bidding on Nick Blakey, they traded their future third-round pick for pick 25 so they could draft him as well, creating a potentially good draft haul.
The Swans believed they could use their top-class player development to maximise his inside midfield skills as well as significantly improve his weaknesses, which saw him slide to pick 25.
And so far, the Swans have been very successful.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
He has performed consistently since his debut and has recorded numbers similar to those young midfielders who are considered elite or even generational talents.
James Rowbottom was one of the Swans’ best in their impressive win over the Lions, especially in the first half before he hyper-extended his knee. He collected 22 disposals including 15 in the first half. He also laid eight tackles, got three clearances and had 13 contested possessions.
Along with the likes of Luke Parker and Callum Mills, Rowbottom was an imposing figure in the middle of the ground, proving to be too strong for a shocked Lions outfit.
But this isn’t the first time he has performed well. He has been a consistently admirable performer throughout his short career, recording stats similar to those who are considered elite talents.
Out of all midfielders aged 18-20 with at least five games across their careers, he ranks sixth for contested possessions, seventh for ground ball gets, second for tackles, second for pressure acts, fifth for stoppage clearances, seventh for clearances and seventh for centre clearances as he goes at a respectable disposal efficiency rate of 68 per cent.
Despite those impressive numbers, you will likely only see him mentioned by the odd impressed Swans fan or perhaps briefly by commentators, who usually pay all their attention to the likes of Sam Walsh, Matt Rowell and Bailey Smith.
He has been consistently overlooked as he plays for a rebuilding team based outside Melbourne. Even among those who do watch the Swans, he does not strike many as a clear standout performer as he operates in the same midfield with likes of Luke Parker and Josh Kennedy while not doing anything spectacular to outshine them.
But if you do watch him closely, you will see how good he is and realise his true talent. You will see him always getting involved in the contest as well as applying consistent pressure and completing crucial tackles to prevent the opposition midfielders from getting simple clearances – things you don’t see many young midfielders do so well.
He will continue to get better throughout his career and it is only a matter of time until people start giving him the praise he deserves.
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