Beloved cop and local footballer found dead at train station

A police officer and footballer has been found dead at a Melbourne train station. The father-of-two has been remembered as “great bloke”.

A police officer and local footballer has been remembered as a “great bloke” who was “loved by everyone” after he was found dead at a Melbourne train station.

Rowan ‘Rooster’ Andrews, 33, was found at Laverton Railway Station, 25km from the city’s CBD, before 5am last Friday.

Tributes have poured in for the married father-of-two who grew up in Tasmania and played football in clubs across the country.

One of Andrews’ former coaches described him as a “rock”. He said he had recieved a “thousand calls from all over Australia” since Mr Andrews’ sudden passing.

“He was just a natural leader, he was a bloke in the trenches with you, he was not a loud mouth, he was just a great bloke,” Chris Rourke, who was the senior coach at the north Canberra based club when Andrews joined, told the Herald Sun.

“He would be the last person you would ever think would leave us. He was a rock for his family, a rock for the footy club, he was Mr Dependable.”

Rowan “Rooster” Andrews died last week. Picture: Facebook

In a post on Facebook, Ainslie football club, which Mr Andrews joined in 2009, expressed its condolences for the 33-year-old’s family, writing it was “deeply saddened” to hear about the loss.

“Rowan joined the Ainslie Football Club in 2009 and made an instant impact not only with his uncompromising training habits but his fearless and tough way of playing football in the Ruck. He led the way and set the tone for many games,” a spokesman for the club said.

“Two time Premiership player in 2010 & 2011, Rooster played 80 Senior games with the club.”

“Our sincere condolences to Alice, Max & Zac and to their extended family.”

Melbourne’s Yarraville Seddon Eagles, who Andrews played for during the 2023 season described Andrews as a “gentle giant” and “pillar” of the football community.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the loss of a dear friend and a pillar within our YSE “Clubbies” and Greater Football community,” the team wrote in a post on Facebook.

“Rowan Andrews ‘Rooster’ was a gentle giant and the ultimate teammate, Rowan will be sorely missed by all, and our full support goes out to his family and Friends.”

Andrews was drafted to the Adelaide Crows in 2003 where he spent two years on the rookie list before he returned home and played for Kingborough in the Tasmanian State League and VFL.

He later moved to Canberra where he played in the NEAFL, before playing in local clubs in Victoria.

A spokesman for Victoria Police told news.com.au it will “prepare a report for the Coroner following the death of a man in Laverton”.

“He was located deceased at Laverton Railway Station about 4.50am on 12 January,” the spokesman said.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious.”