Sam Lowson’s move to South Australia finishes with premiership medal, now for AFL Draft
Sam Lowson has overcome Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdown, quarantine in South Australia and a serious knee injury to play a critical role in Woodville-West Torrens SANFL premiership.
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Sam Lowson moved states to prove how committed he was to achieving his AFL dream.
Three months later and with a SANFL premiership medallion around his neck, he’s done that and more.
Not only has he proved he can match it with the best in South Australia, he’s proved he can overcome serious injury and still play a critical role on the biggest stage.
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Lowson feared his season was over after scans revealed he’d ruptured his medial ligament in Woodville-West Torrens’ final home-and-away match.
It’s an injury that would have sidelined the average player for three months.
Instead, he returned after a fortnight and kicked two goals in the Eagles’ preliminary final win and then 1.2 and laid five tackles in Sunday’s SANFL grand final win over North Adelaide.
“Three weeks ago I thought my season was over … but I was still able to do what I needed for the team and that’s all that matters,” Lowson said.
“If I’d kicked straight I would have had a really good (grand final) but that’s footy, I was just happy to be out there.
“I was lucky to get a season out, to be honest. A lot of people have missed out this year, so I was pretty blessed to get the opportunity to come over here and play footy.
“The move (to Adelaide) was more to show people how much I wanted to make the AFL, so hopefully they see that and see I’m trying to push myself to make it to the next level.”
With Coburg’s VFL season cancelled due to Melbourne COVID-19 crisis, Lowson drove to Adelaide and had to quarantine for two weeks.
After making his senior debut in the Round 11 win over North Adelaide, Lowson finished the season with 10.6 from six games, averaging nine disposals.
The move has been an eye-opener on and off the field.
“It was pretty crazy, the whole environment, I’d never experienced anything like it,” Lowson said.
“They treat it like AFL, if you ask people who they go for they’ll tell you their SANFL team and then their AFL team.
“You’d go to a cafe and some bloke would buy you a coffee and say ‘go Eagles’.
“The club’s been amazing, it feels like a local footy club. Everyone’s got such good relationships, from the players on the outside to the top board member.”
The explosive forward will now return to Melbourne for surgery and rehabilitation.
There continues to be interest from AFL clubs and he expects to be ready for pre-season if he finally hears his name called out on draft night.
“That’s what I really want, to make sure my body is feeling right, get my injuries right and be ready for next year,” he said.
“This season was very interrupted and in a new team I don’t think I was able to show my full capabilities.
“There was (interest) before I moved over here, I was speaking to one club, but once games start they go a bit quiet.”