AFL Draft: Stephen Rowe explains his emotions as son James follows in his footsteps and joins the Crows

Stephen Rowe was overcome with emotion after his son was drafted by the Crows on Wednesday night. But James had a warning for his proud father.

Adelaide draftee James Rowe with his proud dad, former Crow Stephen Rowe. Picture: Mike Burton.

To truly understand the reason behind Stephen Rowe’s tears on Wednesday night and the smile still on his face by Friday, you had to be in the family’s loungeroom on draft night the previous three years.

When son James sat on the couch, nervously tapping his leg with his hand, waiting for his name to be called by one of the AFL clubs that had interviewed him.

But for three years in a row, it never happened.

Until Wednesday night, when the 21-year-old Ken Farmer Medallist and Woodville-West Torrens premiership player joined the Crows with Pick 38 in the national draft and the first step towards realising a boyhood dream of playing AFL footy was realised.

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Crows draftee James Rowe with his very proud dad Stephen. Picture: Mike Burton

“I’m speaking on behalf of all parents because we’re the ones that pick them up, we’re the ones that see the disappointment and anguish,” Stephen said of the three previous years.

“We were the family that sat on that couch with his leg going (tapping) in his draft year, then the year after, and the next, he spoke to countless clubs and this year was no different.

“So we’d lived through all of that, and ‘pick 38 James Rowe’, it was an explosion and that emotion hasn’t stopped, and it’s embarrassing him and I need to pull my head in.

“But it’s your colt, I’ve only got one, and he explained it was like winning lottery and it was for a parent because we keep him home and he’s playing for our club - the club he grew up loving, that I love and our family love.”

Stephen Rowe watching son James speak to the media on Friday. Picture: Mike Burton.

Speaking for the first time as a Crow on Friday, James said he understood his dad’s emotions.

“I think he’s been a bit of a sook to be honest ... but he keeps telling me ‘just wait until you’re a father’, and I can’t control his emotions,” he said.

James had been training since a week after the SANFL premiership and got himself a manager just two days before the draft just in case this year was different.

His back up plan was to continue his job as a carpenter, playing at the Eagles, pick up his study and go fishing with Stephen.

But that’s been now replaced by his first AFL pre-season.

“It’s every boy’s dream to play AFL so it’s always been in the back of my mind but at the same time getting overlooked a few times you’ve got to find a balance in life otherwise you’ll do your head in,” James said.

“I had a good job with Custom Carpentry and had to drop the trailer back on Thursday morning, that was an interesting conversation but they’re very happy for me and a few of them are Crows fans so I’m sure they’ll still see me around.

James Rowe said it was a dream come true to be drafted to the Crows. Picture: Mike Burton.

“You literally feel every emotion in the world and to get my name called out by this footy club was so special, I've been going for them since I was a young kid so I’m just looking forward to being part of this team.

“I’m still pinching myself that I’m going to be meeting Rory Sloane and Matt Crouch, Tex Walker, all those sort of players and I want to learn as much as possible off them.”

Stephen, who played 29 games for Adelaide in the 1990s alongside 185 including a premiership and best-and-fairest at Norwood, now famously wears his heart on his sleeve in his media roles with FIVEaa.

“James sat me down last night and said ‘dad, this is my club, you watch what you say about them’, and I said ‘it’s my club too’,” Stephen said.

As for whether James will wear his old No.3 guernsey, Stephen said it wasn’t his to pass on.

”It’s not my number ... it’s Darren’s (Jarman) number, so my son if he has got the honour of either two (Andrew Jarman) or three, he’s got a tough decision.”