After 13 seasons often spent opposing the AFL's greatest power forwards, Richmond's Joel Bowden has a surprising verdict for the best he's played on - teammate Matthew Richardson.

"I've done it for four or five years through the pre-season. He works so hard, he's so big, I can't get near him on the training track," said Bowden, as he prepares for his 250th AFL match this weekend.

Bowden reaches his milestone against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday - another big moment in a season which has fluctuated wildly between turbulence and triumph.

Dropped after round three - as Tigers coach Terry Wallace publicly lamented his reluctance to tackle - his career looked in serious jeopardy.

Four months later, Bowden was the match-winner in successive Tigers victories thanks to his sharp mind in one game, and his sharp shooting in another.

His pair of clock-draining rushed behinds against Essendon were among the season's biggest talking points, then he backed it up with the winning goal in the dying seconds the following week against Brisbane.

Criticised in some quarters for the gamesmanship used against the Bombers - including having it likened to the Trevor Chappell underarm incident - Bowden shrugged it off.

"That's a bit far-fetched ... a lot's been made of it when there wasn't much there," he said of the incident.

"My view is my hand was forced. There were no options. The umpire called play on, and there was no one to kick it to.

"Only when the siren went did I realise the ramifications of having the ball with 10 or 15 seconds to go."

Renowned as one of the AFL's most intelligent players, Bowden's on-field role has changed - and the 30-year-old believes that could prolong a career he won't put a firm end date on.

From being played as a key defender conceding 10 to 15 centimetres to the likes of Jonathan Brown and Brendan Fevola or as the quarterback out of defence, Bowden is now successfully playing on the half-forward line.

"I'd back myself to play good footy for the rest of the year and I'd like to do that as long as I can," Bowden said.

"The last few weeks have been an enjoyable time - I haven't played in an overly successful side, the team we've got now is starting to get some confidence and play some good footy.

"I honestly believe I can contribute week in, week out to that success.

"As long as the Richmond Football Club will have me, I'll keep playing football."

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