St Kilda mourns the loss of Darryl Cowie who has passed away on December 19 at the age of 62 after a long illness.
To Saints fans of the 1980s, he will always be remembered for his then artistic profession as a glass-blower; an unusual career pathway for a footballer. But that initial activity was only a very small part of Darryl’s broad spectrum of achievements across a superb career.
He was an artist and designer who designed and fabricated significant major art projects around the world. His business, DCG Design, saw him work extensively in America, France, Brunei, Copenhagen, Singapore and Shanghai, among other locations. He was revered within the international art world, and the major projects at the time of his death were with the Art Gallery of NSW and James Turrells Roden Crater in Arizona.
As a footballer in his younger years he played for South Australian Amateur League side Gawler, before being recruited by SANFL club Central Districts where he had 40 senior games and was chosen in the South Australian under 21 side before being recruited by the Saints. At 196 cms and 82.5 kgs Darryl was a tall and versatile player who could play in a number of roles.
After a delayed start due to an off-season shoulder injury, he impressed in his Round 3 debut against South Melbourne. Debuting for the Saints, he was described in one publication as “possibly the most intellectual recruit in the VFL this year”. His first season was spent primarily in defence, occasionally lining up at full-back. He excelled in a defensive role against Geelong beanpole Rod Blake in his second game and took a turn in the ruck. Knee and thigh injuries took a chunk out of the middle of the season, but 13 games was a solid start. His third year in 1984 proved to be his best with 20 of the 22 games and more time spent at centre half-forward.
But in 1985 his year began disastrously when he was concussed in a practice match at Geelong and police offered to be witnesses if he pressed charges. Cowie declined that offer. His impact on the game decreased and he lost his senior spot in the latter part of the year at a time when the club was desperately in need of big men and Cowie had been touted as a potential improver.
In 1986 he believed that opportunities were drying up and he crossed to Richmond where he added seven games over two seasons to the 46 he had played with St Kilda.
An easy-going, relaxed bloke, Darryl Cowie was one of a number of South Australians who appeared with the Saints in that era.
Vale, Saint Darryl.
