Full Name: LAURIE FOWLER
Date of Birth: 29/12/1951
Height: 179 cm ( 5-10 1/2 )
Weight: 75 kg ( 12-3 )
Guernsey: 11/45
Debut: 22/05/1971, Round 8, Carlton
Last Game: 31/08/1974, Round 22, Footscray
RICHMOND SENIORS
Seasons: 1971-74
Total Games: 49
Total Goals: 5
Honours: Premiership 1973.
RICHMOND RESERVES
Seasons: 1969-74
Total Games: 54
Total Goals: 24
Honours: Premiership 1971.
BIOGRAPHY
Laurie was a fearless back-pocket who successfully beat bigger-named opposition players with sheer determination and dogged persistence . He was a strong mark, always used the ball well and he wasn’t afraid to back his judgement. A player who thrived on hard work , he worked his way up from the Under 19 team and he has the unique honour of being a member of Premiership sides in the VFL’s Under 19, Reserve and Senior grades, while at Richmond. He also ran second in the 1971 Reserves Best & Fairest award. He was involved in a famous collision with Carlton powerhouse , John Nicholls , early in the 1973 Grand Final. The collision left Nicholls groggy for the remainder of the game, while Laurie went on to be a valuable contributor in the Premiership victory .
He transferred to Melbourne in 1975 as part of a deal , which saw Geoff Raines become a Richmond player. At Melbourne he established himself as one of their all-time greats winning three Best & Fairests and representing Victoria . Laurie then coached VFA club Waverley before leading Springvale to their first VFA Premiership. He now runs a TAB Branch and lives in Mulgrave.
PRE RICHMOND
Oakleigh Districts U/13, U/15 ; Oakleigh Districts Seniors 1968, Games 20.
POST RICHMOND
Melbourne 1975-81, Games 140, Goals 11 ( Honours - Best & Fairest 1975, 1979-80, Victorian Representative Team Games 3 ) ; Waverley 1982, Games 18, goals 11 ( Honours - Captain/Coach 1982, Best & Fairest 1982 ) ; Springvale 1983-85, Games 38, Goals 17 ( Honours - Premiership 1983 , Captain/Coach 1983-84, Coach 1985, VFA Representative Team 1983 Games 1 ).