Matt Rowell

Matthew Rowell (born 1 July 2001) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League (AFL). Rowell was recruited by the Gold Coast Suns with the 1st pick in the 2019 AFL draft.[1]

For the South African footballer, see Matthew Rowell (South African footballer).

Matt Rowell
Personal information
Full name Matthew Rowell
Nickname(s) Red Bull, Buzz
Date of birth (2001-07-01) 1 July 2001
Place of birth Sydney, New South Wales
Original team(s) Oakleigh Chargers (NAB League)
Draft No. 1, 2019 AFL draft, Gold Coast
Height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 78 kg (172 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club Gold Coast
Number 18
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2020– Gold Coast 5 (6)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 5 2020.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Rowell was born in Sydney, New South Wales[2] to a mother from Victoria and a father from Queensland.[3] The family moved to Melbourne when Rowell was a child and he began playing football when his father took him to Mont Albert to participate in Auskick.[4] He played majority of his junior football with the Canterbury Cobras and was touted as a future AFL player as early as the under 10 level.[5] As Rowell progressed through the junior ranks, he was given an opportunity to debut in the TAC Cup for the Oakleigh Chargers a month after his 16th birthday. Leading into the 2019 season, Rowell was considered the early favourite to be selected with the number 1 pick in the 2019 AFL draft.[6] He showed his worth by dominating for Victoria Metro at the AFL Under 18 National Championships and playing a pivotal role in Oakleigh's NAB League premiership season, including a Grand Final performance against the Eastern Ranges in which he recorded 44 disposals and two goals.[7] He was subsequently voted best on ground in the NAB League Grand Final and awarded U18 All-Australian selection.[8] Rowell attended Carey Grammar with future Gold Coast teammate Noah Anderson throughout his teenage years.[9] The pair were instrumental in delivering Carey's second ever football APS Premiership in 2019 and raising the profile of the school's football program.[10]

AFL career

2020

Rowell made his AFL debut against Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium in round 1 of the 2020 AFL season.[11] In just his second ever AFL game, Rowell was voted best on ground against one of the then-Premiership favourite teams, the West Coast Eagles, and was awarded the round 2 AFL Rising Star nomination for his 26-disposal, two-goal performance.[12] In June 2020, he signed a two-year contract extension to remain with the Suns until the end of 2023.[13] Rowell’s performance in the early rounds of the year was widely considered extremely impressive, with commenters deeming him among the greatest first-year players.[14][15] Rowell was considered by Gavin Wanganeen to be a potential contender for the Brownlow Medal.[16]

In the Suns' round 5 loss to Geelong, Rowell suffered a dislocated shoulder in the first quarter during a heavy tackle from Brandan Parfitt and took no further part in the game.[17] Rowell opted for surgery in order to repair his shoulder, a choice which caused him to be sidelined for three months.[18] The injury was likened to Gary Ablett Jr.'s 2014 injury of the same nature, and was deemed 'eerily similar' as almost six years to the day, Ablett also suffered a season-ending shoulder injury during a tackle whilst playing for Gold Coast.[19] Ablett offered to be Rowell's mentor during his recovery as Ablett had experience with injury himself.[20]

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of round 4, 2020 [21]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
AFL playing statistics
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2020 Gold Coast 184603748854261.50.09.212.021.21.06.59
Career 4 6 0 37 48 85 4 26 1.5 0.0 9.2 12.0 21.2 1.0 6.5 9

References
  1. "SUNS take Matt Rowell with Pick 1". Gold Coast Football Club. Suns Media. 27 November 2019.
  2. "Matt Rowell was always driven to make it in the AFL". 24 November 2019.
  3. "Rowell and Anderson can lead Suns off the bottom: Pickering". 21 September 2019.
  4. "Opposites attract: The origins of Rowell and Anderson's bond". 26 November 2019.
  5. "From U10 rivals to teammates to best friends to picks No.1 and No.2?". 17 May 2019.
  6. "AFL draft 2019, best prospects, players to watch: Noah Anderson, Matthew Rowell, Will Gould, Luke Jackson". 21 March 2019.
  7. "Matt Rowell looks a certainty to go Pick 1 after being best on ground in 2019 NAB League Grand Final". 21 September 2019.
  8. "AFL Draft 2019: Matt Rowell selected by Gold Coast Suns with number one pick". 27 November 2019.
  9. "From school mates to top of the AFL draft". 26 November 2019.
  10. "How private schools have taken over the AFL". 23 November 2019.
  11. Cheadle, Josh (19 March 2020). "Three debutants for season opener". Gold Coast Football Club. Suns Media.
  12. McGarry, Andrew (16 June 2020). "Gold Coast Suns' winning return to football puts the spotlight on young gun Matt Rowell". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  13. Gleeson, Michael (10 June 2020). "Young gun set to stay a Sun". The Age.
  14. Elliott, Josh (17 June 2020). "Investigated: Is Matt Rowell the AFL's GOAT second-gamer?". The Roar. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  15. Jackson, Ed (14 June 2020). "Gold Coast's number one draft pick Matt Rowell stuns AFL with performance against West Coast". Perth Now. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  16. Cherny, Daniel (22 June 2020). "'Not out of the question': Could Rowell win the Brownlow?". The Age. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  17. Twomey, Callum (4 July 2020). "Ablett offers to mentor Rowell after Sun's shoulder injury". Australian Football League. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  18. Ryan, Peter (7 July 2020). "Rowell out for three months after opting for shoulder operation". The Age. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  19. "AFL 2020: Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett milestones, Matt Rowell shoulder injury, legacies enhanced". Fox Sports. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  20. "AFL - News, Fixtures, Scores & Results". afl.com.au. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  21. "Matt Rowell". AFL Tables. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
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