AFL 2025: Matt Rowell on his Suns future, overcoming injury struggles to find consistency

Suns midfielder Matt Rowell has spoken about his long-term future heading into the final year of his contract amid strong Victorian interest.

Bash and crash Gold Coast Suns midfielder Matt Rowell has maintained that he’s happy on the Coast and doesn’t have a desire to return home to Melbourne amid strong interest from Victorian clubs.

2025 is the final year on Rowell’s Suns deal and he is set to hold off contract talks until early next season.

“Not at this point, I don’t think, I’m happy here (on the Gold Coast) at the moment,” Rowell said when asked whether he sees himself returning to Melbourne.

The 23-year-old, who just concluded his fifth season of AFL footy, said he had enjoyed his first season playing under triple premiership coach Damien Hardwick.

“Even though our first year as a whole was inconsistent, I enjoyed it and not much changed for me,” Rowell said.

“Despite coaches changing I was still in the same role which I enjoyed, I was able to play every game, I enjoyed the year and playing under him and looking forward to this year and getting better.”

Matt Rowell and Bailey Humphrey during a Gold Coast Suns AFL pre-season training session. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

Rowell added that Hardwick brought both “really strong views” and great energy to the club.

“I think the whole playing group really brought into it and worked hard on it in the first pre-season that he came,” Rowell said.

“It was a bit up and down and a bit too inconsistent but I think this year we’re really excited.

“Second year under him and we’ve had a year with him so I think we can look to try and take that next step with him.

“He brings good energy to everyday, he’s fun, and we like to have fun while working hard. That’s a strength of his, his energy and positivity.”

Damien Hardwick, Senior Coach of the Suns during a Gold Coast Suns AFL pre-season training session. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

Rowell also lauded the Gold Coast as a prime destination for an elite athlete.

“It’s a good place to live, especially for an athlete, in terms of the weather, it’s pretty hot in the summer so you get pretty fit through that,” Rowell said.

“Then the winters here are even better, sunny and not much rain, you’re getting up early because the sun’s up so you’re getting into a good routine.

“You’ve got the beach, for an athlete it’s a good place to live and I enjoy it.”

The Suns finished 13th with an 11-12 record in 2024, and remain yet to feature in finals.

Gold Coast were plagued by struggles on the road and didn’t win an away game until Mac Andrew’s after-the-siren heroics lifted the side to a one-point win over Essendon in round 22.

Matt Rowell of the Suns runs with the ball during the round 24 AFL match between Richmond Tigers and Gold Coast Suns. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

The former number one draft pick burst onto the AFL scene in his debut season with three best-on-ground showings in his first four games, but would be struck down by knee and shoulder injuries to manage just 17 games across his first two campaigns.

Despite his ferocious and heavily contested play style, he hasn’t missed a game since 2021. It’s a streak Rowell credits to an increased focus on recovery, as well as the mental side of footy.

“I want to be able to play every game every year, I feel like that’s made me work out how to get through a full year of footy,” Rowell said.

“It can get a bit sore at times, just because of the way I play it’s a pretty contested style, as each year goes past you get to know your body more and how to recover after games and through full seasons.

“I think every year, I’m just getting better at being able to do that. It’s a lot of emphasis on recovery throughout the year and making sure you’re ready to go again for the next week.

“I think a lot of what I’ve learnt, especially recently, is you can do all the right things with your body and getting it right but you’ve also got to make sure you spend a bit of time getting mentally prepared as well, if you don’t have that then it won’t work.

“I’ve been doing some more journaling and a bit of mindfulness, those little things help a lot.”

Matt Rowell pictured with Sherrin's new Beachy kids ball which is suitable for water and designed to make AFL skill development fun and easy. Picture: Supplied.

In the past two seasons, Rowell has averaged over seven clearances, eight tackles, and 14 contested possessions per game. He thrives in the contest and plays almost exclusively as a midfielder.

He said he hadn’t spent any time training with the forward group this pre-season, and that there weren’t plans in place to swing him forward during games - as so many midfielders do - to protect his longevity.

“I haven’t been doing any forward work,” Rowell said.

“I don’t think much will change to be honest, but we’ll see moving forward.”

Rowell is an ambassador for Sherrin, who have released their new ‘Beachy’ footy, a neoprene kids ball which can be purchased from Sherrin.com.au.

Originally published as AFL 2025: Matt Rowell on his Suns future, overcoming injury struggles to find consistency