bowden was drafted by richmond with pick 103 in the 1988 vfl draft and started the 1990 afl season by becoming the 920th player to debut with the tigers. he played the first five games of the season and then one final game in 1991. bowden was the second in his family to pull on the yellow-and-black following father michael who was a 1969 premiership player. later brothers joel and patrick also played for richmond.