At the end of last year's trade week, the Blues were faced with a choice between Bower and Setanta O'hAilpin. Bower's relative youth was believed to be a large factor in the club's decision to stick with the talented but injury-prone defender.
Unsettling as that period was for Bower, it could prove to be the turning point of his career.
The 24-year-old managed just three games last season thanks to constant quadriceps issues, but he feels like he's now on top of the injury and is determined to repay the faith coach Brett Ratten has shown in him.
"I definitely feel like a first-year player again," Bower tells carltonfc.com.au.
"The game changes every year, so you can't just have one or two good years and expect to be picked [regularly]. I had to start again and that's the attitude that I've got to have coming off one or two bad years.
"That's really motivated me and spurred me on. I've never been this hungry and this desperate to get a game.
"It was a very difficult year coming off '09 and '10 where I'd been improving. It was pretty draining mentally with the injuries and my form was bad as well. It was a tough time, but my no.1 focus at the end was just to have a big pre-season.
"That's the beauty of footy - you get to start again."
Bower never envisioned having his name thrown about during trade week when he arrived at the club after being selected with the 20th overall pick at the 2005 national draft, but he's grown to understand the business side of the game.
"AFL footy is such a rollercoaster, but I've become better at handling that as I've grown up and hopefully that will show in my footy this year," he says.
"You've just got to forget about it and start afresh. You can't dwell on the past - whatever happened, happened.
"If I have a good year then that's all history. I feel like everything is back on track and I can continue on with my career."
Ratten has long been a fan of the athletic defender and he reiterated Bower's importance to the team during a frank and open discussion after the dust had settled.
Modified training loads and large doses of Pilates now have Bower feeling as good as he did during his breakout year in 2009, when he held down a key defensive post.
Things are different now that Lachie Henderson has emerged as Carlton's incumbent centre half-back, with the rejuvenated Bower taking the third tall or even spending time on a wing during his six games this season.
"In this day and age you need to be able to play two or three positions - you can't just be a one-position player - so I've worked on that side of my game," he says.
"We've got Lachie and (Michael Jamison) down there now so at the moment I'm probably taking the next [tallest forward], who are generally more mobile.
"If the opportunity does come around again I would like to have another shot at a key position post, but the way our team is balanced at the moment I've been playing a bit on the wing too, which suits me well I think.
"I wasn't in the best 22 towards the end of last year, but this has been like a fresh start. I had to earn my spot back and I still am [earning it] because the depth of our team really keeps you on your toes.
"As many games as I've played I just feel like I'm starting to get back to what I was doing before. It's been good."
