Winning the coveted Rising Star award stunned Matt Rowell at first, lost for words and in shock. Following a ceremony held last night on the Gold Coast, the brilliant young midfielder was notified of his win in person. He was even surprised himself to receive this honor! LOOK, I KNOW THIS ALL SOUNDS EXTREMELY SURREAL. I can’t believe I’m dumb enough to be standing up here tonight,’ Rowell said.
Rowell had been the fifth odds-on choice of the nominees. He sought to avoid danger from the outset by hitting the ground running. He accumulated three hits in four straight contests. His incredible performance pushed him firmly into the lead. Ultimately, he came away from the statewide count with one of the highest vote totals of all time—39 votes.
He polled 39 votes, the second highest tally in AFL history. Only Patrick Cripps’ record of 45 votes last year can top his remarkable feat. With two rounds of voting left, Rowell’s overwhelming dominance in the vote makes his lead insurmountable. This historic achievement is additional testimony to his unparalleled genius on the pitch.
In looking back on his overall win, Rowell credited a lot of that success to his “loving and supportive family.” And he thanked them for their steadfast support every step of the way along his long journey. “My family are massive supporters and they are everything to me. They are at every game, and I think they have hardly missed a home game,” he explained.
Rowell’s family, which includes two sisters who help keep him grounded, played a significant role in his development as an athlete. “They support me so much and my two sisters keep me very grounded,” he shared. “I am in the middle so I cannot get away with anything with those two.”
Beyond family support, Rowell underscored the fraternity he feels with his best friend on the field, Noah Anderson. Combined, they cast a record-breaking 64 votes in support of artificial intelligence, an exceptional feat for any two teammates. “It is kind of cool going through the whole journey with him,” Rowell remarked. He underscored that their friendship is the most important thing to him, both on and off the field. Of course, I love him as a play companion, but I love him as a friend. Friendship is the highest honor, and that friendship is everything to me. It’s not every day you have the chance to explore an AFL club with your best mate!
While Rowell has been recognized personally with awards and honors, he’s focused on the long game. He is resolutely focused on winning an election with his crew. “You dream about it a lot and yeah, hopefully we can get there one day,” he said, underscoring his ambition for future success.
Matt Rowell’s journey from being a fifth favorite to winning the Rising Star award exemplifies hard work, talent, and significant support from family and friends. His extraordinary accomplishment should be the new standard that all future players strive toward. Beyond joyful movement, it reinforces the role that community and connection should play in sports.
