Full Name: DES ROWE
Date of Birth: 19/11/1925
Height: 182 cm ( 5-11 1/2 )
Weight: 83 kg ( 13-1 )
Guernsey: 14
Debut: 11/05/1946, Round 4, Footscray
Last Game: 24/08/1957, Round 18, Melbourne
RICHMOND SENIORS
Seasons: 1946-57
Total Games: 175
Total Goals: 24
Honours: Equal Best & Fairest 1951, 1955, Captain 1952-57, Victorian Representative Team Games 7, Victorian Representative Team Captain 1956, All-Australian Team 1956. 1955 Pelaco Award for Best and Fairest (voted on by all the players who had to name the 3 best players in the opposing side each week) . 1955 Sporting Globe 100pound award
RICHMOND SENIOR COACH 1961-63
RICHMOND RESERVES
Seasons: 1946-48
Total Games: 20
Total Goals:
Honours: Premiership 1946
BIOGRAPHY
Des was a centre-half-back who represented the Tigers with distinction for over a decade. He originally started his football career with Fairfield, before moving to Coburg in 1945, where he played mainly as a centre-half-forward, finishing his debut season with 60 goals. He finished fourth in the “Liston Trophy” and was also selected to represent the VFA. In 1946, he crossed to Richmond as a centre-half-forward. In his first season, he was a member of the Reserves’ Premiership side and after struggling for success as a key-forward, he applied for a clearance to Collingwood, but the Richmond brains trust moved him to defence and he excelled. He was a fearless, dashing player who used his strength effectively in marking and physical contests. He had a good turn of speed and was a long kick.
He won the club Best and Fairest award in 1951 and 1955, finished second in 1950 and 1953 and third in 1954 and 1956. He represented Victoria seven times as well as captaining the state and being selected in the All-Australian team in 1956. He captained Richmond in 104 games between 1952 and 1957 and he coached the club between 1961 and 1963.
His 1957 pre season was slightly interrupted with a left ankle sprain at March training.
He is the only Richmond coach to win a night Premiership and he achieved this feat in 1962. Richmond also finished runners-up in the 1963 Night Series. He is a Life Member of the Richmond Football Club and after retiring from football, worked in the hotel trade. He now lives in North Balwyn. Des is the son of Percy Rowe who played 96 games for Collingwood between 1920 and 1928. Percy was a member of Collingwood’s 1928 Premiership side.
PRE RICHMOND
Fairfield 1941-44, Games 64 ( Honours - Northern District League Competition Best & Fairest 1943-44 ) ; Coburg 1945, Games 22, Goals 60 ( Honours - VFA Representative Team 1945 ).
POST RICHMOND
;){kind=link}