Matt Rowell
Matt Rowell | |||
---|---|---|---|
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 | 5 (6) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 5 2020. | |||
Career highlights | |||
| |||
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com |
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]
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.[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 and took no further part in the game.[17] Rowell opted for surgery in order to repair his shoulder, a choice which will cause him to be sidelined for three months.[18]
Statistics
- Statistics are correct to the end of round 4, 2020 [19]
G
|
Goals | K
|
Kicks | D
|
Disposals | T
|
Tackles |
B
|
Behinds | H
|
Handballs | M
|
Marks |
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 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 37 | 48 | 85 | 4 | 26 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 9.2 | 12.0 | 21.2 | 1.0 | 6.5 | — |
Career | 4 | 6 | 0 | 37 | 48 | 85 | 4 | 26 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 9.2 | 12.0 | 21.2 | 1.0 | 6.5 | – |
References
- ^ "SUNS take Matt Rowell with Pick 1". Gold Coast Football Club. Suns Media. 27 November 2019.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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". The Age.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Twomey, Callum (4 July 2020). "Ablett offers to mentor Rowell after Sun's shoulder injury". Australian Football League. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ^ Ryan, Peter (7 July 2020). "Rowell out for three months after opting for shoulder operation". The Age. Retrieved 1 August 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