Recruited from Moe, Rowlings played in Hawthorn's 1975 Grand Final defeat to North Melbourne, kicking the first goal of the game. He was one of Hawthorn's best players in the emotional 1976 premiership triumph.
In 1978 Rowlings suffered a serious knee injury which prevented him from being part of Hawthorn's 1978 triumph, and was cleared to Richmond. In his first season at Tigerland won the Jack Dyer Medal, which is awarded to Richmond's best and fairest player for the season.[1]
South Australia 26.16 (172) defeated Victoria 17.14 (116), at Football Park, 16 May 1983, crowd: 44,521
Western Australia 16.22 (118) d Victoria 16.19 (115), at Subiaco Oval, 12 July 1983, crowd: 44,213