Australian Football

AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game

 

Key Facts

Full name
John Bowe

Known as
John Bowe

Born
14 July 1911

Died
12 April 1990 (aged 78)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 21y 296d
Last game: 22y 78d

Height and weight
Height: 175 cm
Weight: 69 kg

Senior clubs
Subiaco; South Melbourne

Jumper numbers
South Melbourne: 18

Recruited from
Subiaco (1933); South Melbourne (1934)

John Bowe

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
SubiacoWANFL1931-1932, 1934-1936, 1939-194010390.09—————
South MelbourneV/AFL19331700.0076%18.00—4.002
Total1931-1936, 1939-194012090.08—————

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 4,024th player to appear, 6,933rd most games played, 11,145th most goals kickedSouth Melbourne: 477th player to appear, 630th most games played, 1,214th most goals kicked

Johnny Bowe was a key player, indeed regarded as one of the team’s stars, in 103 WANFL games for Subiaco in 1931-2, from 1934 to 1936 and in 1939-40. He represented Western Australia in 1934, 1935 and 1936 (as captain) and was a joint club fairest and best winner in the first of those seasons. 

An elegant and elusive left-footed wingman, especially fêted for his brilliant stab passing, he spent the 1933 season playing for South Melbourne in the VFL. It proved to be a highly memorable year as he helped the Swans to their first premiership since 1918, earning prominent mention in dispatches after a fine performance at right centre wing in the grand final defeat of Richmond. 

After his playing career was over he coached South Melbourne to a third place finish in 1941.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Diehards 1896 to 1945 by Ken Spillman; Wikipedia article

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.