44. MATT OWIES

THE curtain has been drawn on an unprecedented 2020 season for the Navy Blues.

Trading Ikon Park for 10 different hotel hubs across Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, it’s been a year we won’t soon forget.

With the final siren having rung on the final game, it’s time to look at those who featured in five or more games for Carlton or made their AFL debuts in 2020.

Here’s the year that was for Carlton’s Matt Owies.

GAMES

2020: 1
Career: 1

GOALS

2020:
Career: 

KEY AFL STATISTICS (averages in brackets):

Disposals: 5 (5) Contested possessions: 4 (4) Intercepts: 3 (3) Score involvements: 2 (2)

OVERVIEW

Picked up as a rookie in 2019, Matt Owies has been growing in consistency over the last two years playing up forward for Carlton’s reserve side.

Coming from an illustrious basketball career for the University of Hawaii, Owies has been determined to make his mark in his new code.

This year, Owies finally got a taste of the AFL level, making his debut in the Blues’ win against the Swans in Round 16.

It was reward for effort for the 23 year old, who had three consecutive weeks of three-goal performances in the reserves competition.

Owies dominance for the Blues’ reserve team would also see the spritely small forward finish as the leading goal scorer for the year.

BEST PERFORMANCE

In a scratch match against the Western Bulldogs, Owies showed his potential as a small forward completing his third consecutive game kicking three goals.

Alongside his consistent effort on the scoreboard, Owies provided a number of pressure acts in the forward half, showing his completeness as a small forward at the reserves level.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT

All of Owies’ hard work led to his AFL debut in Round 16 against the Swans, which would also result in his first win in the Navy Blue.

Owies provided forward pressure, managing four contested possessions, three intercepts and two score involvements.

A game that will be remembered forever by Blues fans everywhere, the game ended with Owies’ close teammate Matthew Cottrell’s match- winning mark and goal.

THEY SAID IT

Development Coach Daniel O’Keefe gave an update on Owies after a reserves scratch match.

“Owies played a good game, a smart game: his leading patterns were really good and he’s a bit of a general in the front half for us,” O’Keefe said.

“He kicked a goal but he provided lots of pressure for us as well which was great.”