Essendon has been revealed to have used club champion James Hird’s iconic No.5 jumper as a part of its bid to lure Jack Bowes to the club during last year’s trade period.
The Bombers were one of three clubs interested in acquiring the 25-year-old from the Suns, who were prepared to attach a first-round pick to get his salary off their books.
Bowes ultimately chose to join Geelong over Essendon and Hawthorn, but not before an impressive pitch from the Bombers, which was revealed in Stan Sport’s new documentary, Show Me The Money II.
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A scene in the documentary shows Bowes’ manager Robbie D’Orazio discussing the three pitches he received from the Bombers, Hawks and Cats.
“Essendon, (list manager) Adrian (Dodoro) picked him up from Brighton, drove him to the airport,” D’Orazio says.
“They stopped at Tullamarine, went through the gates and (Essendon coach) Brad Scott was there.
“He gave (Bowes’ partner) Jaz an Essendon hat, gave him No.5, James Hird’s number, and then dropped him to the airport, pretty impressive.”
Show Me the Money II is available to stream on Stan Sport from February 23. Click here to sign up!
Devon Smith wore Hird’s iconic No.5 most recently before injuries forced a premature retirement last season. Essendon eventually handed the jumper to last year’s top pick Elijah Tsatas.
D’Orazio revealed that Bowes had also been taken out to lunch by Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell and list manager Mark McKenzie, with the Hawks prepared to offer him the best contract of the three clubs.
The documentary shows Bowes and his partner being given a tour of Geelong’s facilities by Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Stewart, the team’s captain and vice-captain for the 2023 season, with the tour coming a day after Dangerfield’s wife had given birth to the couple’s third child.
”It’s been pretty overwhelming. It’s been tough, but my gut is leaning towards the Cats,” Bowes told D’Orazio after the three presentations.
“I feel like they’ve got their best interests at heart with me. I just had a good feeling about them, meeting them, their culture.
“To get to this point has been a bit of a whirlwind, but I’m excited. I’m keen to get out of my comfort zone, to get out of Queensland and really take my career to the next level.”
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