[1] Bown was recruited by Norwood from the West Broken Hill Robins and played a couple of seasons in the lower grades before making his league debut in 1999.
He won the clubs Under 19's Best & Fairest award in 1997 as well as playing in the Redlegs SANFL U/19 Premiership the same year.
His form with Norwood (and obvious potential) was such that he was added to the Adelaide Crows Rookie List in 2000.
He was elevated to the senior list in 2001 and made his AFL debut for the Crows against Hawthorn at York Park in Launceston, Tasmania.
Stuart Bown played in Norwood's losing 1999 SANFL Grand Final team that went down to Port Adelaide by just 8 points denying him the rare distinction of winning the U/19, Reserves and League Grand Finals in successive seasons with the same club.