For a guy who only played three seasons of League football, Jack ‘Scotty’ Lowe sure managed to pack in a lifetime’s worth of drama. And while something always seemed to be happening when Scotty was concerned, his talent was undeniable – yet also largely unfulfilled.

Jack’s father, John, was the first member of the family to achieve a kind of fame, having been part of the group imprisoned in the Glenrowan Hotel by Ned Kelly before he was captured in 1880. He was 18 at the time, and would go on to be the last surviving member of that group at the time of his death in 1950.

The Lowes were one of the best-known footballing families in Victoria’s north-east. John, the father, was a famous umpire. His sons included Jack and – a remarkable 16 years later – Arthur, who would play 41 games for North Melbourne in the 1920s. Another of his sons, Tom, was one of the best footballers in the district, and he captained Yarrawonga for many years. One of his sons, Frank, was similarly talented.

Jack, whose real name was John, was a gun footballer at home who attracted the interest of both Carlton and Collingwood. And that’s where the first dramatic twist in the story comes.

Late in 1910, the League’s Permit Committee was asked to consider a most unusual case – an application by Collingwood to register Lowe as its player, with a form signed by him, and a letter from Lowe asking for permission to withdraw his application!

In an evening of scarcely credible testimony, Lowe told the Committee that he had come to the city from Seymour on a sheep train to play with Carlton but had trained at Collingwood for three evenings because he knew Magpie ruckman Dave Ryan. He claimed he then signed a form that Magpie secretary Ern Copeland had ‘flopped down in front of me’, but without reading it or having any idea of its contents.

Not surprisingly the Carlton delegate said ‘a man from the country’ couldn’t be expected to understand such things, and should be free to join Carlton. But the South Melbourne delegate knew what was going on: “My opinion is that the man from the country knows a bit more than you think,” he said. Copeland told the Committee that he had explained the form to Lowe and he had agreed to join Collingwood.

The Committee deliberated only a short time before deciding that Lowe’s registration lo Collingwood must stand. But then also ruled that the Pies could not play Lowe in their team until further notice! It was a messy and confusing situation.

In the end, Lowe did not make his debut for Collingwood until 1912. And when he did it was easy to see why the Pies had fought so hard to keep him.

He played 14 games and kicked seven goals, including four in a game against Fitzroy, quickly establishing himself as a forward and follower who could also play in defence (he’d actually started in the back half in that four-goal game against the Roys).

“Collingwood have reason to congratulate themselves on securing Lowe, a country player who bids fair to make a name for himself in League company,” said Sport newspaper. “He kicks and marks well but has to learn as a follower. When he settles down he will be first flight.” “In Lowe Collingwood possess a brilliant ‘any position’ player. Amongst the backs he was irresistible, while when sent forward he notched four sixers when goals were at a premium,” wrote Punch after the Fitzroy game.

The Herald agreed. “Lowe, who would have been playing two years ago but for a hitch in the permit affairs, is a forward or follower. When he’s into metropolitan methods he should be a very handy man. Already his genial nature has made him a favourite with the players and the barrackers at Victoria Park.”

His reputation grew even further in 1913, when he kicked 17 goals in a nine-game stretch. “Jack Lowe showed himself a footballer throughout the Carlton-Collingwood game,” said the Football Record. “He waded into the thick of the fray, marked well, and kicked beautifully, three of the Magpie's sixers coming from his foot.”

But just as he seemed to be settling into his career – more drama. In August newspapers reported that Collingwood had suddenly sacked him because ‘in the opinion of the Committee he is not taking sufficient interest in the team’. Others said the selectors had decided that Lowe’s ‘heart was not in the team’. 

Some supporters were upset, and so were some of his teammates, who according to Punch had threatened to stand out of a game in support of him until Copeland intervened with some hard words.

Whatever the story behind it, Lowe’s Collingwood career was over. And it surprised absolutely nobody when he moved to Carlton in 1914. He played in a Premiership with the Blues that season but in the Grand Final was reported for general rough play and attempting to kick an opponent. He was rubbed out until halfway through 1915.

That doesn’t seem to have stopped him trying to play with Albury early in the season, although one of their opponents, Rutherglen, protested after their match. In the end he was issued a permit to play with Albury after his suspension expired. He went back to Carlton in 1919 but didn’t play senior football.

It was a wild old ride for Jack ‘Scotty’ Lowe. A player of obvious talent but seemingly poor judgement. Imagine wanting to play for Carlton over Collingwood!

- Michael Roberts