Becoming a regular fixture in an AFL side seemed like an unlikely prospect for Billy Gowers 12 months ago. 

The 22-year-old spent two years on Carlton’s rookie list but was delisted at the end of 2016, having never played a senior game.

Gowers spent 2017 working full time as a real estate agent and signed with Footscray in the VFL, training weeknights and playing weekends.

Twelve months on, Gowers finished the year as the Western Bulldogs’ leading goalkicker (scoring 26 majors).

He kicked at least one goal in all but one of his 20 games for the year, with Round 9 the only exception.

“I probably thought it was a bit farfetched to get back into the AFL system,” Gowers told westernbulldogs.com.au.

“It was always going to be hard, but I think I’ve been given a really good opportunity through the Doggies and I’m really lucky.”

Gowers, who was taken at pick 9 in the 2017 Rookie Draft, made history (and joined the likes of Jesse Hogan, Jeremy Cameron, Troy Wilson, Scott Cummings, John Hutton and Allen Jakovich) by becoming his Club’s leading goalkicker in his first season.

He kicked bags of three goals twice and kicked two goals on five occasions, while also averaging 12.7 disposals and 4.2 marks. 

“I’ve been reasonably pleased with the way my year’s turned out,” he said.

“As soon as I got here my goal was to get my first game and then from there build on the momentum.”

While Gowers produced some strong football up forward, his main goal is to make a shift to the Bulldogs’ midfield.  

“I didn’t really play forward until last year for Footscray,” he said.

“They’ve given me the license to play a bit more forward this year.

“Ultimately I’d like to become an inside midfielder and to use my pace and power.  I need to build my aerobic capacity to do that, and it’s something I’m looking to do over the off-season and pre-season as well.”

“I’m looking to build my tank – my aerobic longer running, endurance base.  I also want to work on my skill set and the things that I think are weapons in my game.”