Gold Coast Suns star Matt Rowell opens up on his season ending injury and 2021 comeback

Matt Rowell unintentionally made headlines by taking notes during his injury layoff. But what was he writing about his teammates?

It was the moment Matthew Rowell’s world came “collapsing down”.

The 2019 No. 1 national draft pick had been flying.

He had delivered one of the most blistering starts to an AFL career with three best-on-ground performances in the opening four games of his rookie season.

Then disaster struck.

In just seconds, Rowell’s debut year was over when he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury as he landed heavily on his right arm in tackle from Cat Brandan Parfitt in the opening quarter against Geelong in Round 5.

Rowell winced as he clutched at his shoulder before he made his way off the ground with his arm hanging down his side.

He returned to the bench with his arm in a sling to watch his teammates in the second half in one of the most deflating scenes of the season.

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Matthew Rowell returned to the ground with his arm in a sling against the Cats in Round 5. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Immediately, Rowell’s pain was felt across the league.

In a COVID-blighted season which had already suffered so much turbulence, the young Gold Coast Suns star had provided a beacon with his instant, eye-catching form.

Even in his moment of injury despair, it didn’t take Rowell long to realise there was no upside in dwelling on the unlucky setback.

“At the time when I did it … it feels like the world is collapsing down on you,” Rowell said.

“So for a few days I wasn’t in a great mood and was pretty disappointed.

“But I realise that’s footy and, as an athlete, you are going to get injuries like that.

“For a few days I was a bit down, but I started to figure out in this time when I am injured, I can still get better and find things in the gym to get stronger at and tried to watch as much film on games as I could.

“You can still learn a lot and I did learn a lot this year. Even dealing with an injury, it was my first real injury, so I have learned a lot this year.

“Obviously, there was a lot of disappointment first up but you have got to switch that mindset pretty quickly and see what areas you can get better.”

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Rowell leaves the field with Suns’ doctor and physio after the injury. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

But Rowell admits his strong early form had made the injury harder to swallow.

In his opening four games, Rowell averaged more than 21 disposals and kicked two goals a match between Rounds 2 and 4.

He had polled three Brownlow votes in three consecutive games – and had also attracted the maximum votes from the AFL coaches – to be considered a runaway favourite for the Rising Star award before his Round 5 injury.

“When you are playing good footy you just want to keep playing each week because you are feeling good,” Rowell said.

“So it was a bit frustrating with that, who knows what could happen?

“But you can’t dwell on it too much, you’ve got to keep looking forward. And footy is a team game as well, it’s not about the individual.

“So you have got to keep your spirits up and upbeat for the team because while that was all happening they were still playing games and I had to be there for them as well.

“Footy is great like that and team sports when you are feeling down you can get around your teammates and help them out.”

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Rowell polled three Brownlow votes against the Dockers in Round 4. Picture: (Dave Hunt/AAP

The Suns found the perfect way for Rowell to do that during his rehabilitation.

Rather than sit in the stands and watch, the 19-year-old was given a headset and sat on the bench alongside coach Stuart Dew, taking in all the action and helping orchestrate the moves at ground level.

“The coaches came to me and asked me if I wanted to do it,” Rowell said.

“I leapt at the opportunity because I wanted to still be a part of it in some capacity. I didn’t really know what that was going to be, but ‘Dewy’ came to me and said we can give you this opportunity and I said ‘Yeah, that would be great’.

“I really loved doing that, being close to the boys on game day and at training and hopefully I am improving some of them and getting them ready for the weekend’s game. I was very lucky to have that opportunity and very grateful for the club that they did that.”

Rowell said his time on the bench had helped him see the game from a “different angle”.

Matt Rowell takes notes during his injury layoff.

“It was a great insight. I really enjoyed it,” Rowell said.

“As a player you head is so in the game and focusing on what your job is on game day, but when you are sitting on the bench, you are analysing the game a bit more (and) you can see where things break down as a team, team defence and it gave me a better idea of what the coaches see and what the main areas they want from you on game day.”

But Rowell could have been accused of taking his new job a little bit too seriously when he was filmed critiquing teammate Noah Anderson during a warm-up with notebook in hand.

“I was in the warm-up just having a joke with him about how many fumbles he made,” Rowell laughed.

“It was just a bit of a joke, but it was good fun.”

Rowell’s comeback is now in full swing.

He returned for the official start of pre-season on Monday, having worked hard during the break to ensure he was in the best shape possible for his summer preparations.

The midfielder will remain on light duties until after the Christmas break when it is hoped he can return to full contact work in January.

“The shoulder is really good at the moment,” Rowell said.

“I have still got a little bit to go with the rehab and in terms of training in these few weeks before Christmas they will just ease me into it in terms of contact stuff and then when we come back in January, I should be 100 per cent ready to go.

“I am doing a little bit of contact, just warming it up and getting used to the different movements you need to do in a game, but just one-on-one stuff for now and getting it ready before I get into some full-on drills and body work, which will come in January.”

Rowell was back at training with the Suns last Monday. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos

Rowell had a latarjet procedure performed to repair his injured shoulder and he was confident the joint would be stronger than before when he returned.

“When they do them (latarjet) it is usually a very strong procedure so usually by the end of it your shoulder is almost better than the other one,” Rowell said.

“It’s where they put a bit of bone in front of your collarbone in front of the shoulder so it locks in and it’s very rare you do it again.

“I’m very happy with how the surgery went and at the moment it’s all about getting it stronger and getting it ready for game play.”

Rowell will move in with teammates Ben King and Jack Lukosius in the coming weeks and has his sights on starting a horticulture course next season to “take his mind off footy a bit” when he’s not at the club.

But after injury crippled what shaped as a standout debut season, Rowell isn’t complicating his goals for next season, for which he has already been installed as the hot favourite for the 2021 Rising Star award.

“I am keeping it very simple … it’s all about getting the body right,” Rowell said.

“Then in January the aim is to train hard and it’s all about getting it ready for Round 1 … and looking forward to playing some good footy and getting straight into it early in the season.

“The advice (Dew) has given me coming back from injury is just make sure you get it right first and we were really happy with you in your early games so just try and hard as you can to get back into that form and go from there.

“He backs me in my training standards and he knows I will be doing all I can to get right for Round 1 so he has full confidence in me. He is really good like that, Dewy. He puts a lot of faith into you and you just want to pay him back for it so that’s what I’ll be trying to do.”