He made his AFL debut late in the 1992 season and was a regular fixture in the Melbourne midfield in 1993.
Kowal earned a 1993 AFL Rising Star nomination for his 21 disposals and two goals against St Kilda.
His 1996 season, in which he played all 22 games, is remembered for a physical confrontation he had with a Richmond runner and their coach Robert Walls during a match.
After spending much of 1998 in the reserves he broke into the senior side and played some of his best football late in the season.
He took part in Melbourne's finals campaign that year and celebrated his 100th game with a win over Adelaide at the MCG in 1999, his last season.