Paddy Rowan

Who was Paddy Rowan?

Percy Edward Rowe was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Victorian Football League.

Although his real name was Percy Rowe he was known at Collingwood as Paddy Rowan, an alias that had originated from his boxing career. The reason for the name change was because he was not permitted to play for the Magpies in 1911 as he had already played with the South Bendigo Football Club that year. In order to sign him up, Collingwood registered him under the assumed name of Paddy Rowan. Coincidently a man named Percy Rowe played at Collingwood during the 1920s but he was of no relation.

Rowan played in two losing Grand Finals, the first from the back pocket in his debut season and the other as a half forward flanker in 1915. Rowan, who was in training with the army while at Collngwood, had completed a 10 mile route march on the morning of the 1915 Grand Final but still took the field. He was killed in action the following year at the Battle of the Somme, dying of shrapnel wounds.