Gary Cowton
North Melbourne, Footscray and South Melbourne · “Crazy Horse”
AFL career
199 games39 goals
- Debut
- R5 1971 v COL1 May 1971
- Most recent
- R1 1984 v CAR31 Mar 1984
Stats
1984 | NTH | 1 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 11.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1983 | NTH | 21 | 7.1 | 4.5 | 11.6 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1981 | SME | 8 | 7.9 | 4.3 | 12.1 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1980 | FSC | 18 | 8.9 | 7.2 | 16.1 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1979 | FSC | 22 | 9.9 | 6.7 | 16.6 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
1978 | NTH | 19 | 7.7 | 6.0 | 13.7 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1977 | NTH | 21 | 8.4 | 5.9 | 14.3 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
1976 | NTH | 23 | 6.7 | 4.6 | 11.3 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
1975 | NTH | 16 | 8.2 | 4.7 | 12.9 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 0.9 |
1974 | NTH | 19 | 8.4 | 4.8 | 13.3 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.4 |
1973 | NTH | 15 | 11.7 | 3.4 | 15.1 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
1972 | NTH | 12 | 7.2 | 2.2 | 9.3 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
1971 | NTH | 4 | 6.5 | 3.0 | 9.5 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Bio
Recruited from Benalla in the Ovens & Murray Football League, Gary Cowton became a cult hero at North Melbourne during the club's golden era in the 1970s. Affectionately known as "Crazy Horse" due to his erratic turning circle and unpredictable movement, Cowton was a rugged utility capable of plugging holes in defence or drifting forward to hit the scoreboard. He was a vital component of Ron Barassi's famous lineup, playing in five consecutive Grand Finals. His place in club history was cemented with two premiership medallions; he was an interchange player in the breakthrough 1975 triumph and held down a half-back flank during the historic 1977 Grand Final replay win over Collingwood.
Cowton's career took a journeyman turn in 1979 when he was sent to Footscray as part of the blockbuster trade that brought Brownlow Medallist Gary Dempsey to North Melbourne. After two hard-fought seasons with the Bulldogs and a brief, eight-game stint with South Melbourne in 1981, he eventually found his way back to Arden Street in 1983. He played out his final two seasons where it all began, adding valuable experience to a side that reached a preliminary final, before retiring just one game shy of the 200-game milestone.
Profile
- Born
- 30 Dec 1952 (age 73y 295d)
- Birthplace
- Geelong, VIC
- Height
- 188 cm
- Weight
- 92 kg
Teams
Honours
- Premiership(2×) 1975, 1977
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Benalla in the Ovens & Murray Football League, Gary Cowton became a cult hero at North Melbourne during the club's golden era in the 1970s. Affectionately known as "Crazy Horse" due to his erratic turning circle and unpredictable movement, Cowton was a rugged utility capable of plugging holes in defence or drifting forward to hit the scoreboard. He was a vital component of Ron Barassi's famous lineup, playing in five consecutive Grand Finals. His place in club history was cemented with two premiership medallions; he was an interchange player in the breakthrough 1975 triumph and held down a half-back flank during the historic 1977 Grand Final replay win over Collingwood.
Cowton's career took a journeyman turn in 1979 when he was sent to Footscray as part of the blockbuster trade that brought Brownlow Medallist Gary Dempsey to North Melbourne. After two hard-fought seasons with the Bulldogs and a brief, eight-game stint with South Melbourne in 1981, he eventually found his way back to Arden Street in 1983. He played out his final two seasons where it all began, adding valuable experience to a side that reached a preliminary final, before retiring just one game shy of the 200-game milestone.