Darren Kowal

DOB: 18 June, 1972
Debut: Round 21, 1992 against Essendon at MCG
Last Game: Round 20, 1999 against Port Adelaide at Football Park

Games: 105
Goals: 46
Career Statistics (external link)

Wins	Draws	Losses	Winning %
49	0	56	46.66

From: Claremont, Selection 3, 1991 National Draft

Number: 7 1992-1999

Honours
Rising Star Round 14, 1993 vs St. Kilda

Selected by the Demons with the selection they received from Richmond for trading Steve O'Dwyer?, Kowal was a number of players from the dominant Claremont WAFL premiership side to be picked by AFL clubs that year.

During the Round 15, 1996 game against Richmond Kowal was involved in an incident with Tigers coach Robert Walls. Confronted by the coach after a tackle on Chris Naish late in the second quarter of the game. Kowal was charged with misconduct in that he chested Walls and pushed a Tigers runner. Walls was cited for making "intimidating and forceful" comments at Kowal. Kowal was fined $1500, Walls $5000 and the runner suspended for the rest of the year. Walls later apologised to Kowal for his conduct.

A disappointing 1997 season saw Kowal play most of the year in the reserves, appearing for just six senior matches. Lucky to retain his place on the senior list he responded with 14 games in a much improved Demons side the next year.

Despite playing 11 senior matches in 1998 Kowal was equal runner up (along with Peter Walsh) in the Gardiner Medal for the best player in the AFL Reserves competition.

Kowal played in Round 1, 1999 but soon found himself in and out of the side. He played his 100th game in Round 13 but a three touch performance against Port in Round 20 would prove to be his last match.

Kowal nominated for the draft at the end of the year but could not find another club. Despite some suggestion that he might move to Tasmania and coach the Northern Bombers he returned to Claremont as captain instead. In his first season Kowal ran third in the Sandover Medal count. He was also captain in 2001 and played with the Tigers until the end of 2005.