After a disrupted 2017 season, SUNS Academy product Jack Bowes is ready to tackle the high expectations in his second year of senior AFL football.

Bowes has been flying since having his tonsils removed at the start of preseason, with the 20-year-old forced to miss a chunk of games to tonsillitis in the second half of last year.

With the health issues behind him now, Bowes is looking to put a stranglehold on his position in the SUNS’ best 22 heading into the JLT Community Series and the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

In doing so, the former Cairns AFL junior hopes to book himself a flight back home to play round one in front of friends and family at Cazaly’s Stadium.

“(I was) pretty lucky enough to do it last year, that was one of the great experiences and something I’ll never forget,” Bowes told SUNS TV.

“There’s a bit more initiative and incentive to train hard in the preseason and hopefully earn a round one spot.” 

As part of a partnership with Tourism and Events Queensland, the SUNS will take two games to North Queensland in 2018. 

The first is a JLT Community Series match against Geelong in Townsville, followed by round one in Cairns against North Melbourne on March 24.

“It’s great for the Cairns community up there as well because they don’t get to see much footy,” Bowes said.

“To go up there and for people to watch it live and experience the atmosphere is great.”

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