Yarra Junior FL: Canterbury product Matt Rowell makes his mark at AFL level
Three games into an AFL career and this former Canterbury Cobras junior has made an immediate impact with a NAB AFL rising star nomination.
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It’s been a fortnight to remember for Canterbury Cobras Junior Football Club, with prodigy Matt Rowell named the AFL’s Round 2 Rising Star nominee as he continues to make his mark in the big time.
The midfielder was selected by the Gold Coast Suns with the No.1 pick in last year’s national draft and has made an immediate impact in the top-flight.
The former Cobras junior and Oakleigh Charger gathered 26 disposals – 14 of those contested – along with five clearances and two goals in the Suns’ upset win over West Coast last weekend to receive the rising star nod.
The young gun backed it up with 20 possessions, 10 tackles and two goals in his side’s dismantling of Adelaide on Sunday.
Canterbury Junior Football Club football director David Kenny said the club was thrilled with Rowell’s start in the big-time.
“He’s a superstar, how good is he going to be?” Kenny said.
“Junior footy’s about getting kids playing as much footy and loving the game as much as we all do, and every now and again you get somebody like Matt Rowell pop up who’s just a talent that’s able to take that to another level.
“It’s just so awesome to see.”
Rowell made his mark at the Cobras before earning two All Australian honours at under-18 level with the Oakleigh Chargers and taking the best-on-ground honours in 2018’s NAB League grand final.
“A few of the older guys on the committee saw him play (juniors with Canterbury) – he’s just a ripper kid, and the family is really involved with the club,” Kenny said.
“The family are life members, he’s a life member and he (played) 150 games, he’s on the commemorative board.”
With Rowell’s NAB Rising Star nomination comes a $5,000 cash boost for the Cobras which Kenny said the club was grateful for.
“The AFL’s giving us a few thousand, NAB’s giving us some merchandise, it’s awesome for our club,” he said.
“It makes a big difference for a small community club, so we are rapt.
“We’re rapt to see the success that (Rowell’s) getting now … it’s just amazing the level he’s playing at.”
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