Adelaide Crows rookie’s dad goes wild from the commentary box

James Rowe’s father was commentating when the Adelaide Crows recruit booted his maiden goal in the AFL on Saturday afternoon.

Stephen Rowe celebrates his son's goal. Images: Fox Sports and Getty.

Adelaide Crows recruit James Rowe enjoyed an unforgettable AFL debut on Saturday afternoon, and the youngster’s maiden goal was all the more memorable with his father calling the moment from the commentary box.

Early in the second quarter at Adelaide Oval, Rowe received a handball inside 50 before spinning around and sprinting towards the posts.

The 21-year-old booted a goal from a 45-degree angle to extend Adelaide’s lead over the Geelong Cats, and the home crowd went berserk.

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But nobody celebrated louder than his father Stephen, who was commentating the action live for FIVEaa.

“Good boy!” an elated Stephen yelled on the mic.

If there's no conflict there's no interest 🤣 https://t.co/DncSoQ3lYc

— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) March 20, 2021

This. Is. Footy. #weflyasone#aflcrowscatshttps://t.co/M5cb4Ynnxs

— Mikey Nicholson (@Mikey_Nicholson) March 20, 2021

Ker-bang! That was bloody magnificent. Jimmy Rowe, you 🌟

— Lee Gaskin (@Lee_Gaskin1) March 20, 2021

James finished the club’s season opener with two majors and 16 disposals as the Crows secured a thrilling 12-point victory over last year’s grand finalists.

Stephen, a radio personality and former Adelaide player, broke down during a live show after the Crows selected his son as a mature-age recruit in last December’s AFL Draft.

The 55-year-old Rowe played 29 games for Adelaide in the early 90s.

“Oh my god, how did that just happen? My little Jimmy is a Crow,” Stephen said on the FIVEaa Breakfast program last December.

“It still hasn’t sunk in, fellas. I truly don’t know what to say.

“I think I stopped crying at about 3:30am this morning … We’re emotionally wrecked, we’re just drained. That was his dream.”

James Rowe of the Crows.

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The Herald Sun’s Sam Landsberger tweeted: “James Rowe is the reason the Crows bid their No. 1 pick on Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. They had wind the Dogs liked Rowe and didn’t want to risk missing out at pick 38.”

Adelaide will next take on the Sydney Swans at the SCG on Saturday, March 27th.

— with Tyson Otto