HAILING from the Silver City, although born at North Adelaide, David Low started his playing career with the North Broken Hill Football Club, coming down to play the SANFL in 1910.
During his 68-games league stint with West Torrens between ‘10-15, Low established himself as one of the finest defenders of the epoch.
After making his debut with Torrens in 1910, Dave Low was quick to gain a reputation as a “strong and distinguished defender” across his shortish, but illustrious career.
In his second season, 1911, Low was selected in South Australia’s team for the home-based carnival and was described as “the best backman on view during the home state’s demolition of the VFL in the deciding game of the championships”.
South Australia was undefeated across the 1911 National Championships held in Adelaide, defeating the Big V in the final game by 43 points at the home of SA sport on August 12.
Low’s ability to take the umpire’s eye was already evident.
Later that ‘11 season, he finished second to Sturt’s Harry Cumberland in the Magarey Medal voting.
The 1912 season again included state selection once more together with a gold medal as West Torrens club champion.
He collected the SANFL’s highest individual accolade, this time winning the Magarey Medal.
An SA publication of the Time, The Register, wrote the following in their Saturday, October 5 edition under the heading of Champion Footballers – Awarding the Medals:
“Topping these achievements, was Low’s selection as the 1912 Magarey medallist, the inaugural permanent defender to secure this accolade. The selection will be popular among followers of the sport generally.
Low, who was previously mentioned in this paper as having a good claim to selection, has done excellent work in the senior and interstate contests, and is a particularly fair and brilliant footballer.
Throughout the season he has been thoroughly consistent, and his fine defence was always a prominent feature in the matches by West Torrens. He deserves the heartiest congratulation.”
Keener to participate in the blue and golds’ first ever premiership, this sadly did not eventuate as Torrens were dislodged from the major round in the first semi-final by Port Adelaide.
Low continued to play consistently well across the next two seasons as well. He represented South Australia at the 1914 Sydney carnival where he “shone in defence”.
This time the Croweaters finished second, behind Victoria, losing the final match by 34 points.
He returned home to help West Torrens, which were in the mire after a 0-5-1 record after six games, before mount a sustained late season charge, which saw them dislodge West Adelaide from fourth place.
Again, they were defeated in the semi-final weekend, with North Adelaide bringing West Torrens’ season to an end in a low scoring game by nine points.
By this time though, league football was the last thing on most people’s minds as the “War to end all Wars” heaved slowly but ominously into top gear.
Low played the first four matches of what was to be the SANFL’s last close to full scale season for four years in 1915.
He enlisted, setting sail for Africa and then Europe.
Along with many other talented men of his generation, he never returned to Australia, dying in hospital in England of wounds received whilst fighting in France.
Low was 29 years of age, when he died on August 4, 1916.
His death in action during World War I deprived our national football code of a talent which might ultimately have acquired regal status.
