DOB: 18 June 1972
Debut: Round 21, 1992 against Essendon at MCG
Last Game: Round 20, 1999 against Port Adelaide at Football Park
From: Claremont, Selection #3, 1991 National Draft
Number: 7 1992-1999
Honours
Rising Star Round 14, 1993 vs St. Kilda
Games: 105
Goals: 46
Career Statistics
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
| 49 | 0 | 56 | 46.66 |
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.
After debuting with three games late in 1992, Kowal played 17 the next year and 14 in an injury interrupted 1994 when he suffered a broken collarbone. Despite playing the last six games of the home and away season he was dropped for the finals.
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.
After being delisted at the end of the year he nominated for the draft but could not find another club. Despite suggestions 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. In 2001 he was named captain and played with the Tigers until the end of 2005 for 105 games total.
Served as an assistant coach with WAFL side Perth in 2018.
| Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
| 1992 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | 17 | 21 | 0 |
| 1994 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 | 18 | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 | 22 | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 14 | 6 | 1 |
| 1999 | 11 | 9 | 0 |
| Match | Charge | Sanction | |
| Round 15, 1995 | Attempting to kick | Withdrawn | |
| Round 15, 1996 | Misconduct | $1500 fine | |
Lists
First draft picks
Interstate recruits
WAFL
Media
Age - 24/11/1999
Herald Sun - 21/06/2000