Laurie Fowler
Encyclopedia
Laurie Fowler is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Richmond
and Melbourne
in the Victorian Football League
.
After finishing runner-up in the senior Best and Fairest count as a 16-year-old at Oakleigh Districts, Fowler was zoned to Richmond. Working his way up from the thirds side, Fowler made his senior VFL debut in 1971 and soon became recognized as a tough and courageous defender. He will be best remembered as the player who crashed into Carlton
captain-coach John Nicholls
at the start of the 1973 VFL Grand Final
. The collision severely impacted Nicholls and helped Richmond avenge their loss to Carlton in the previous year's Grand Final.
Richmond won the premiership again in 1974, but Fowler quit after he was omitted from the team. The Tigers considered Fowler's senior options to be limited and sold him to Melbourne - the club Fowler had supported as a child - for $15,000 (in 2009, that would be equivalent to over $100,000). Fowler made an instant impact with the struggling Demons, winning the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal
in his first season. Although primarily a back-pocket player, Melbourne coach Bob Skilton
also used Fowler as a ruck-rover to help cover for Greg Well
's lack of defensive skills in midfield. In 1976, Melbourne narrowly missed out on September action after Carlton could only manage a draw with Footscray in the final round of the home-and-away season. Fowler was again among Melbourne's best players, finishing runner-up to Wells in Keith Truscott Medal count.
Skilton was replaced as coach by former premiership player Dennis Jones
at the end of the 1977, but Melbourne's fortunes didn't improve and they finished last in 1978. During that season, Fowler had to be talked out of retirement after being relegated to the Reserves, and then quit for a brief time in May after being substituted against North Melbourne
. Despite receiving offers from a number of top clubs at the time, Fowler returned to Melbourne just days later and reconciled. Jones was sacked at the end of the season and Carl Ditterich
returned as captain-coach.
Although Melbourne didn't fare much better under Ditterich, Fowler continued to stand out, winning successive Keith Truscott Medals in 1979 and 1980 and representing Victoria at interstate level in 1980 and 1981.
Fowler walked out on Melbourne after contract negotiations failed before the start of the 1982 season. Instead, he spent the season in the Victorian Football Association with Waverley. He then became captain-coach of Springvale
and led them to the Second Division flag in 1983.
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
and Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
After finishing runner-up in the senior Best and Fairest count as a 16-year-old at Oakleigh Districts, Fowler was zoned to Richmond. Working his way up from the thirds side, Fowler made his senior VFL debut in 1971 and soon became recognized as a tough and courageous defender. He will be best remembered as the player who crashed into Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
captain-coach John Nicholls
John Nicholls
John Nicholls is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton Football Club in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.-Carlton career:...
at the start of the 1973 VFL Grand Final
1973 VFL Grand Final
The 1973 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Richmond Football Club and Carlton Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 29 September 1973. It was the 77th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine...
. The collision severely impacted Nicholls and helped Richmond avenge their loss to Carlton in the previous year's Grand Final.
Richmond won the premiership again in 1974, but Fowler quit after he was omitted from the team. The Tigers considered Fowler's senior options to be limited and sold him to Melbourne - the club Fowler had supported as a child - for $15,000 (in 2009, that would be equivalent to over $100,000). Fowler made an instant impact with the struggling Demons, winning the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal
Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal
The Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Melbourne Football Club player judged Best and Fairest for the season.It is named in honor of Keith 'Bluey' Truscott, a former dual premiership player and World War II fighter ace killed in 1943....
in his first season. Although primarily a back-pocket player, Melbourne coach Bob Skilton
Bob Skilton
Robert John "Bob" Skilton was an Australian rules football player who played as a rover for South Melbourne and Victoria between 1956 and 1971....
also used Fowler as a ruck-rover to help cover for Greg Well
Greg Wells (footballer)
Greg Wells is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne and Carlton in the VFL during the 1970s and early 1980s....
's lack of defensive skills in midfield. In 1976, Melbourne narrowly missed out on September action after Carlton could only manage a draw with Footscray in the final round of the home-and-away season. Fowler was again among Melbourne's best players, finishing runner-up to Wells in Keith Truscott Medal count.
Skilton was replaced as coach by former premiership player Dennis Jones
Dennis Jones
Dennis Jones was an Australian rules footballer who played with and coached Melbourne in the Victorian Football League ....
at the end of the 1977, but Melbourne's fortunes didn't improve and they finished last in 1978. During that season, Fowler had to be talked out of retirement after being relegated to the Reserves, and then quit for a brief time in May after being substituted against North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
. Despite receiving offers from a number of top clubs at the time, Fowler returned to Melbourne just days later and reconciled. Jones was sacked at the end of the season and Carl Ditterich
Carl Ditterich
Carl Ditterich is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL.Ditterich, known as the "Blonde Bombshell", made a sensational best-on-ground debut against Melbourne in 1963 where he was said to have run around like a Gazelle. He became a tough ruckman and often appeared at the League Tribunal,...
returned as captain-coach.
Although Melbourne didn't fare much better under Ditterich, Fowler continued to stand out, winning successive Keith Truscott Medals in 1979 and 1980 and representing Victoria at interstate level in 1980 and 1981.
Fowler walked out on Melbourne after contract negotiations failed before the start of the 1982 season. Instead, he spent the season in the Victorian Football Association with Waverley. He then became captain-coach of Springvale
Casey Scorpions
The Casey Scorpions Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the Victorian Football League . The club was founded in 1903 as the Springvale Football Club and played under the name Springvale. In its history it has won 21 premierships...
and led them to the Second Division flag in 1983.
External links
- Profile at Demonwiki