Percy Bowyer
Collingwood
AFL career
154 games33 goals
- Debut
- R1 1928 v GEE21 Apr 1928
- Most recent
- R5 1938 v CAR21 May 1938
Stats
Bio
Percy Bowyer was a unique figure in Collingwood’s "Machine" era, born in England and raised in a family that managed hotels across Melbourne before finally settling at the Sir Robert Peel Hotel in Collingwood. His path to Victoria Park was unconventional; working at Carlton and United Breweries, he caught the eye of the club hierarchy during a social match against asylum wardens, though he was formally recruited from local church side St Saviours, where selection was reportedly contingent on Sunday attendance.
A reliable and versatile utility rather than a headline-grabbing star, Bowyer became a crucial cog in Jock McHale’s dynasty, featuring in four premiership sides. He initially made his mark as a defender and winger, playing in the 1929 and 1930 flags, before reinventing himself as a hard-running follower—a precursor to the modern ruck-rover—for the 1935 and 1936 triumphs. Known for his "old English" manners and gentlemanly conduct off the field, his career was cut short in 1938 when he retired after being wrongly diagnosed with a stomach ulcer.
Profile
- Born
- 06 Sept 1909
- Died
- 17 Nov 1998 (aged 89y 72d)
- Birthplace
- Langley, United Kingdom
- Height
- 179 cm
- Weight
- 71 kg
Teams
Honours
- Premiership(4×) 1929, 1930, 1935, 1936
Bio
1 revisionPercy Bowyer was a unique figure in Collingwood’s "Machine" era, born in England and raised in a family that managed hotels across Melbourne before finally settling at the Sir Robert Peel Hotel in Collingwood. His path to Victoria Park was unconventional; working at Carlton and United Breweries, he caught the eye of the club hierarchy during a social match against asylum wardens, though he was formally recruited from local church side St Saviours, where selection was reportedly contingent on Sunday attendance.
A reliable and versatile utility rather than a headline-grabbing star, Bowyer became a crucial cog in Jock McHale’s dynasty, featuring in four premiership sides. He initially made his mark as a defender and winger, playing in the 1929 and 1930 flags, before reinventing himself as a hard-running follower—a precursor to the modern ruck-rover—for the 1935 and 1936 triumphs. Known for his "old English" manners and gentlemanly conduct off the field, his career was cut short in 1938 when he retired after being wrongly diagnosed with a stomach ulcer.