Suns star Matt Rowell in history-making Brownlow Medal win

Gold Coast Suns star Matt Rowell has capped off a stellar 2025 season, taking out AFL’s Brownlow Medal.

He becomes just the second player in the club’s history to win the prestigious honour, after Gary Ablett Jr won in 2013.

Rowell got off to a flying start as the count got underway on Monday night, polling a perfect 12 votes from the opening four games of the season, the first player in history to achieve the feat.

He went on to poll votes in 16 more matches to finish with a total of 39 votes, the second-highest Bronlow tally of all time.

Collingwood star and red-hot favourite Nick Daicos finished second again with 32 votes, while Geelong’s Bailey Smith was third with 29 votes.

“I cannot believe I’m standing up here tonight … I think a lot of boys could be standing up here tonight, so I feel very humbled and very honoured to be up here,” Rowell said.

“I am pretty speechless, to be honest, as you can probably tell … I need to get some words going.

“I came in tonight and was just happy to maybe be one of the contenders. I don’t know, I did not think I would win, and it is amazing to be standing up here.”

Rowell thanked his family for their unwavering support

“They’re everything to me, they’re at every game. I think they hardly missed a home game, Mum especially, hardly missed a home game at Gold Coast this year. They support me so much.

“My two sisters keep me very grounded. I’m in the middle, so can’t get away with anything with those two, but yeah, very loving, very supportive, and that’s why I’m standing up here.”

Rowell also paid tribute to his Suns skipper and best mate, Noah Anderson, with the pair being side by side throughout their AFL journey.

“Just to go through the whole journey with him….and then to get drafted together made it pretty cool and made it a lot easier to transition into the AFL.

“I love playing with him. But I love him as a mate as well. That friendship means a lot to me. It’s not very often you get to go to an AFL club with your best mate and we want to forge that journey together.”

Suns coach Damien Hardwick was among the first to congratulate his star player.

“He has stepped up into our leadership group for the first time this season, and alongside taking his personal game to another level, has played a key role in seeing us take some big steps forward as a football club,” Hardwick said.

“He’s an absolute joy to coach, and I know he’s the kind of player every player wants standing alongside them.

“We could not be prouder of him earning the accolades he richly deserves.”

Anderson had a big night himself, polling 25 votes to finish sixth in the count.

He also took home the award for Goal of the Year for his screamer in the Round 18 win over Collingwood.