CARLTON Football Club is pleased to announce it has signed former Australian basketballer Matthew Owies as a Category B Rookie.
The two-year contract will see the 183cm point guard return to his home state of Victoria and don the navy blue until at least the end of the 2020 season.
After residing in Hawaii and Seattle on athletic scholarships for the past two years, Owies will travel back to Australia and take up this new career opportunity at Carlton.
As an all-round athlete growing up, Owies was touted as an elite junior footballer and basketballer, playing footy for the Camberwell Sharks and representing the Melbourne Tigers in the Victorian basketball competition.
A 2015 graduate of St Kevin’s College, he won five national championships with the Tigers from under-13s to under-18s and earned MVP honours on three occasions.
Also representing his state in basketball, Owies led the under-20 Victorian team to a gold medal at the 2015 Australian National Junior Championships, and at an international level, he won a silver medal at the 2014 FIBA under-17s World Championship in Dubai.
GM of List Management and Strategy Stephen Silvagni said he was pleased Owies will call Ikon Park home for the next two years.
“We’re delighted to welcome Matthew to Carlton. We think he’s a terrific athlete who could be a long-term prospect for the Club,” Silvagni said.
“Matt was an elite junior footballer before he decided to follow basketball, so when we heard he wanted to switch codes, we saw this as a great opportunity to get him on our list and see what he can produce on the footy field.
“With his elite speed and agility, he we see him playing as a small forward who could also push up to the midfield.”
Matthew Owies will call Ikon Park home for at least the next two years. (Photo: Carlton Media)
Owies said he was excited to pull on the footy boots and hit the track in a few weeks’ time.
“I’ve always loved footy and grew up watching AFL, so to come back home and take up this opportunity at Carlton is amazing – mum is really happy to have me back too,” Owies said.
“After playing basketball for so many years, I’m hoping my agility and endurance will be a strength as I transfer as many skills as I can to the footy field. I know I have a lot to learn, but I’m a competitive person and really want to crack in.
“I can’t wait to meet all the boys and get stuck into pre-season come November.”
