Sam Rowe Biography

St Kilda delist ruckmen Lewis Pierce and Billy Longer as well as pre-season signing Sam Rowe.

"Billy and Lewis were both unfortunately sidelined for most of the year with injury, but we thank them for their commitment to St Kilda over their time at the club," Saints head of football Simon Lethlean said.

"While Sam was only here for one season, he has had a great impact on our group."

St Kilda signs former Carlton defender Sam Rowe under SSP rules.

The club's move for Rowe comes after backman Dylan Roberton announced that he would step aside from footy in 2019 due to heart irregularities.

"He's an experienced defender, who can also play forward if need be and pinch-hit in the ruck," Saints general manager of football Simon Lethlean said.

"He is also a quality person who knows what is required at the elite level."

Sam Rowe is keen to extend his 99-game AFL career after being delisted by Carlton.

"It's disappointing because I've loved playing at Carlton and I thought I had a bit of footy left in me, but I think you have to move on pretty quickly, because I've been around the place long enough to realise footy is a business and they make tough decisions," Rowe said.

Sam Rowe is confidently targeting a return in round one, 2018, after re-signing with the Blues.

The defender was due to come out of contract at the end of 2017 and was concerned that, at 29, his time at the elite level might be up.

"I had some strong assurances pretty quickly from the club that I would be offered a new contract, so they did settle my nerves fairly quickly," Rowe said.

"Nothing's ever certain in footy but getting that reassurance from the club was quite comforting and just let me get stuck into getting the knee right and preparing myself for next year."

Sam Rowe has contacted Jesse Hogan in support of the young Melbourne forward as he comes to terms with a testicular cancer diagnosis.

Rowe beat the same form of cancer in 2012, only months after the Blues revived his AFL career as a 24-year-old.

"I have reached out to him and no doubt I'll have a chat to him at some stage," Rowe said.

"When I was in a similar situation, I felt it was nice to talk to someone who'd been through it, so I'll certainly be there for Jesse, if and when he would like to talk.

"I've spoken to a lot of people since who haven't played footy and I think the footy's really irrelevant at this time … it is important just to take stock and get on with it."

Jesse Hogan accepts a two-match ban for striking Blues defender Sam Rowe.

Carlton cuts it's leadership group from eight to five.

Sam Rowe is a new addition to the group while Andrew Carrazzo, Kade Simpson, Andrew Walker and the delisted Brock McLean have left the group.

Existing leadership group members include Marc Murphy, who will continue as captain, Michael Jamison, Bryce Gibbs and Lachie Henderson.

Sam Rowe signs a new two-year deal with Carlton, keeping him at the club until the end of 2016.

Rowe was initially offered a one-year contract but has agreed to a two-year extension after a terrific year in defence.

The 26-year-old has been one of coach Mick Malthouse's success stories of 2014, often taking the opposition's most dangerous tall forward and proving hard to beat. He has played all bar one game for the season.

The Blues have put a two-year contract to Sam Rowe, having originally understood to have offered a one-year extension.

Sam Rowe signs a one-year contract extension with Carlton.

"I must be doing something right," Rowe said.

"It's not easy getting another contract so I'm pretty proud I've been able to get another one. It's quite satisfying and very rewarding."

Sam Rowe makes his AFL debut for Carlton at the MCG with 11 disposals (7 kicks and 4 handballs), 4 marks, a tackle, 8 hitouts and a goal in a 17-point loss to Collingwood.

Sam Rowe will make his return to football after surviving cancer against Collingwood in round 2 of 2013.

"I'm a better person for everything I've been through so I'm not ever going to complain about anything that's happened to me," Rowe said.

"I hope this is only a stepping stone for things to come. I don't want to just be the guy who had cancer and played a game. I'd rather be known as a good footy player who played a lot of footy to come."

After battling cancer, Sam Rowe impresses in the NAB Cup and has put his hand up for selection in round one.

"It's just a great story. He's out of those guys who is so hard-working. He's had a few fights on his hands in the last 18 months, and he's found a way to get into our side," Blues forward coach Jon Barker said.

"We are hopeful he can keep playing good footy and can put his hand up to be a part of the Round 1 side. We are going to have some challenging decisions to make as we get closer to Round 1.''

With Jarrad Waite, Matthew Kreuzer, Levi Casboult, Luke Mitchell, Shaun Hampson and Sam Rowe all expected to be ready for the start of the season, Carlton is expected to be spoilt for choice when it comes to big men, something it rarely had the luxury of in 2012.

"We could not get consistently healthy talls last year, so having these guys fit and available is going to be critical for us," forwards coach John Barker said.

"The good thing is all of them who had some small and big issues last year, they are all ready to go."

Blue Sam Rowe has taken significant steps on his way back from battling cancer.

"I'm going really well, I've been training for about a month, everything else [to with my health] has been perfect," Rowe said.

"I'm starting to feel quite fit again, which is good. I'm starting to get a bit of fitness back and starting to feel pretty good."

Sam Rowe is diagnosed with testicular cancer and Carlton coach Brett Ratten says he will have the full support of the club and is expected to make a full recovery.

"We expect him to make a full recovery and go through some chemo and things like that that he has to go through in the next six to nine weeks," Ratten said.

"When he has that treatment he'll take another six to nine weeks to overcome the effects of that then move on, but we're behind Sam and we expect him to make a full recovery."

Sam Rowe thought he had missed his opportunity after being delisted by the Swans but now has a second chance with Carlton.

"I thought I was probably done after my time at Sydney," Rowe said.

"I spent four years over at Norwood and had a very good time there, and luckily enough Carlton have given me a chance, which I'll grab with both hands if I can."

The Blues wanted mature-age recruit Sam Rowe last year - finally, they've got their man after picking him up in the 2011 national draft.

"We watched Sam last year and were actually going to pick him as a rookie a year ago, but he had a year to go on his carpentry apprenticeship," Carlton recruiting manager Wayne Hughes said.

"So, in fairness to his long-term welfare, he said he'd rather try to finish his apprenticeship. He appreciated the opportunity to be a rookie, but from his long-term view he thought it would be the right thing to do."