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).
Matt Rowell | |||
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Personal information | |||
Full name | Matthew Rowell | ||
Nickname(s) | Red Bull, Buzz | ||
Date of birth | 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 | 4 (6) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 4 2020. | |||
Career highlights | |||
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Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com |
Early life
Rowell was born in Sydney, New South Wales[1] to a mother from Victoria and a father from Queensland.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6] He was subsequently voted best on ground in the NAB League Grand Final and awarded U18 All-Australian selection.[7] Rowell attended Carey Grammar with future Gold Coast teammate Noah Anderson throughout his teenage years.[8] The pair were instrumental in delivering Carey's second ever football APS Premiership in 2019.[9]
AFL career
Rowell was recruited by the Gold Coast Suns with the 1st pick in the 2019 AFL draft[10] alongside best friend, Noah Anderson, who was also selected by the Suns with Pick 2.[11] He made his AFL debut against Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium in round 1 of the 2020 AFL season.[12] 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.[13] In June 2020, he signed a two-year contract extension to remain with the Suns until the end of 2023.[14] 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.[15][16] Rowell was considered by Gavin Wanganeen to be a potential contender for the Brownlow Medal.[17]
Statistics
- Statistics are correct to the end of round 2, 2020 [18]
G | Goals | B | Behinds | K | Kicks | H | Handballs | D | Disposals | M | Marks | T | Tackles |
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 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 2 | 11 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 8.5 | 14.0 | 22.5 | 1.0 | 5.5 | N/A |
Career | 2 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 2 | 11 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 8.5 | 14.0 | 22.5 | 1.0 | 5.5 | – |
References
- "Matt Rowell was always driven to make it in the AFL". 24 November 2019.
- "Rowell and Anderson can lead Suns off the bottom: Pickering". 21 September 2019.
- "Opposites attract: The origins of Rowell and Anderson's bond". 26 November 2019.
- "From U10 rivals to teammates to best friends to picks No.1 and No.2?". 17 May 2019.
- "AFL draft 2019, best prospects, players to watch: Noah Anderson, Matthew Rowell, Will Gould, Luke Jackson". 21 March 2019.
- "Matt Rowell looks a certainty to go Pick 1 after being best on ground in 2019 NAB League Grand Final". 21 September 2019.
- "AFL Draft 2019: Matt Rowell selected by Gold Coast Suns with number one pick". 27 November 2019.
- "From school mates to top of the AFL draft". 26 November 2019.
- "How private schools have taken over the AFL". 23 November 2019.
- "SUNS take Matt Rowell with Pick 1". Gold Coast Football Club. Suns Media. 27 November 2019.
- "Noah Anderson joins the SUNS with Pick 2". Gold Coast Football Club. Suns Media. 27 November 2019.
- Cheadle, Josh (19 March 2020). "Three debutants for season opener". Gold Coast Football Club. Suns Media.
- McGarry, Andrew (16 June 2020). "Gold Coast Suns' winning return to football puts the spotlight on young gun Matt Rowell". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- Gleeson, Michael (10 June 2020). "Young gun set to stay a Sun".
- Elliott, Josh (17 June 2020). "Investigated: Is Matt Rowell the AFL's GOAT second-gamer?". The Roar. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- 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.
- Cherny, Daniel (22 June 2020). "'Not out of the question': Could Rowell win the Brownlow?". The Age. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- "Matt Rowell". AFL Tables. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
External links
- Matt Rowell's profile on the official website of the Gold Coast Football Club
- Matt Rowell at AustralianFootball.com
- Matt Rowell's playing statistics from AFL Tables