Royals Add Midfield Strength with the Signing of Ben Bowler

Essendon Royals are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Ben Bowler ahead of the 2026 VPL2 season.

Bowler arrives from league rivals Altona City, where he established himself as one of VPL2’s standout midfielders in 2025. Known for his composure, physical presence and ability to control games under pressure, he adds vital experience to the heart of the Royals’ midfield.

Bowler’s reliability has been a hallmark of his career. Since arriving in Australia in 2019, he made 26 league appearances for Hume City in his first season. He followed that with 17 appearances in the disrupted 2021 campaign, 25 more in 2022, and a further 22 in 2023. In 2024 he featured for Bentleigh Greens in VPL1 before joining Altona City for 2025.

That level of durability — combined with his technical quality — made Bowler a key recruitment target for Essendon.

Speaking to Royals Media, the midfielder said his early conversations with incoming Head Coach Mick Ferrante set the tone.

“I was in England when Mick messaged me. I knew the club, I’d played against them and had mates who’d been here,” Bowler said. “From the start it felt like something that aligned with what I wanted. The club wants to push forward and get promoted, and it just seemed like a good fit.”

Bowler said the standard of VPL2 stood out in his debut season.

“Every team has good players. It’s competitive, physical, heated. I’m expecting more of the same, and like anything, when you’re at a club, you want to win. I want to get promoted and win football games.”

Bowler also highlighted the trust he formed during recruitment.

“You just get a vibe when you speak to a coach. You know if you’re aligned on values or see the game the same way. I got a good feeling from those conversations,” he said.

After connecting with several senior Royals players – including Brad Norton, Vinnie Lia and Dean Clarke – his decision became clear.

“Players who’ve been here consistently spoke about what a good club it is. From the outside it always looked like that too. After a few days of thinking it through, it was obvious it was the right move. I’m excited to get going.”

Please join us in welcoming Ben Bowler to the Royals family as we prepare for a big 2026 season.