“It was quite funny really, because the Adelaide media get pretty caught up in their own little world, and while the draft was on they were talking about all the Adelaide players who got drafted. I actually didn’t hear my name get called out and I remember saying ‘Stop talking you idiots’,” Rowe said.
“Then all the texts started coming through, so I figured my name must have been called.
“My heart was really flying, and I actually didn’t believe it until it happened. I’m very excited, very relieved. I can’t wait to get over there really. I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch, but I really want to get across and get into it.”
Carlton named the solidly-built Norwood key forward with its second selection (44 overall) in the 2011 AFL National Draft.
Originally rookied to Sydney through 2006 and ’07, the 24 year-old former Walla Walla big man who joined the South Australian Redlegs in 2008 conceded he wasn’t ready for the rigors of League football during his time at the SCG.
“Looking back, I was a fair way off it then,” Rowe said. “I was just out of school and had just turned 18 when I went up there. I was nowhere near my best footy then, and hopefully I’m just getting into it now.
“I always believed I had the ability, but it’s just taken a bit of time to get it all together and feel confident in my game. Hopefully now I can play my role and it will be good enough for Carlton."
A good friend of Nick Duigan, Rowe has watched on with interest as his former Norwood teammate impacted enormously on the Carlton team through 2011.
“I’m stoked to come across and catch up with ‘Duigs’ again. He’s told me how good the Carlton Football Club is and he can’t recommend it highly enough,” Rowe said.
“That’s good enough for me. If he says it’s good, it’s good.”
Though he isn’t mindful of the football club’s history in its totality, the apprentice carpenter has been around long enough to know "that Carlton is a very proud and successful footy club”.
“And that’s one of the most exciting things for me, that I’m coming to such a big, proud football club that’s on the way up again. If I can be a part of their successes over the next couple of years then that will be fantastic.”
Carlton’s National Recruiting Manager Wayne Hughes termed Rowe “a mature age player like Nick Duigan”.
“He’s a big strapping fellow, who was a Swans rookie at the age of 18,” Hughes said.
“We think he’ll be a good fit for our key forward area, and being a bit older he might allow some of our younger key position players a little more time to develop.”
Rowe rated himself “a pretty competitive player”.
“I really try to crash into packs and crash into people, and make my presence felt. I’m just a passionate player who tries to do his best.”
