‘Clearly not happy’: Gold Coast gun trade storm erupts

Kane Cornes says reports about Gold Coast gun Matt Rowell reveal much more than face value about the former No. 1 draft pick.

Matt Rowell of the Suns. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

Kane Cornes says rumours about Matt Rowell show the gun midfielder is “clearly not that happy” on the Gold Coast.

The former No. 1 draft pick is reported to have had a secret meeting with Geelong officials in October as he prepares to make a big decision on his future this year.

UFC 312: Du Plessis v Strickland 2 | SUN 9 FEB | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.

Leading footy journalist Mitch Cleary reported on Monday night that the Cats made a pitch to recruit the star during a face-to-face meeting.

“We can reveal tonight that Geelong coach Chris Scott and footy boss Andrew Mackie sat down with the 23-year-old (Rowell) and his manager (Tom Petroro) at a private apartment in Melbourne’s bayside,” Cleary told 7News Melbourne on Monday night.

Matt Rowell of the Suns. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“The Cats’ pitch: ‘Come and become the next Joel Selwood in our star-studded midfield.’

“He (Rowell) specifically requested the October meeting so it wasn’t a distraction for his Suns pre-season.”

His contract expires at the end of 2025.

Port Adelaide great Cornes said on SEN Breakfast Rowell’s meeting is telling.

“I don’t know what it says about Matt Rowell. He’s clearly not that happy,” Cornes said.

“He’s clearly not seeing his future. Otherwise there’s no way you’re meeting with a club in your off-season in October 12 months out.

“If you’re happy, you’re happy. You’re sitting down talking to the club about an extension aren’t you?”

Cornes praised the Cats on their ambitious trade play.

“It’s very much in the strategic model of Geelong,” he said.

“The thing that I liked about what they’ve done is the players that they’ve brought in recently are all high draft picks and they’re all of an age that says they’ve got 10 years still to play.

“When you look at (Tanner) Bruhn, when you look at Ollie Henry, when you look at Bailey Smith — they’ve all got a lot of footy ahead of them.

“To be able to bring in high quality top draft picks who have had the hard work done for them. They’ve been developed for 4-5 years at another club and Geelong get them and they’re ready to go. That is a great model.

However, he questioned if the Cats will be able to make an enticing offer to the Suns.

“How do they get it done,” he said.

“If they do get this done – it’s a big if. There’s a lot to play out over the next 12 months of course. It makes a lot of sense with a pitch for him.

“How do they get it done? He’s not a free agent. You need to trade for him. It’s easier if he’s out of contract.

“What’s he worth? It starts at one top 10 pick with some change I would think.”

SEN footy journalist Sam Edmund responded by suggesting Essendon would be a likely suitor because of the draft picks the club has up its sleeve to make an offer to the Suns.

Collingwood were also linked to Rowell after the 2024 Trade Period.

As reported by AFL Media‘s Cal Twomey in October, the Magpies will also attempt to lure Rowell from the Suns.

Matt Rowell of the Suns. Photo by Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“I reckon Collingwood will have a crack at luring Matt Rowell next year,” Twomey said on Gettable.

“They’ll continue to be proactive in the trade (space) ... That’s not saying that he’ll take up any interest or move at all, but as will other Victorian clubs, Collingwood will have a dip at a lot of players next year.

“The Suns will want to sign him up as soon as they can ... but other clubs will be watching that closely until he does. (There will be) a lot of takers for Matt Rowell.”

Five years and 85 games into his career, the Victorian has a difficult decision to make with the Suns capable of playing finals football in 2025.

The Suns in recent years have been able to secure several of their young stars to long-term deals, including Mac Andrew (2030), Wil Powell (2029), Bailey Humphrey (2028), and Noah Anderson (2027).

But Rowell, who the Suns took with Pick 1 in the 2019 draft, is now Gold Coast’s most pressing contract priority as he remains unsigned beyond this year.

Cleary reported while Rowell was happy at the Suns, there’d been “no movement” on a Suns contract extension at this stage.

Asked last month whether he envisaged himself returning home to Melbourne at the end of 2025, Rowell told CODE Sports: “Not at this point, I don’t think, I’m happy here (on the Gold Coast) at the moment.”

The Cats during last year’s trade period added ex-Bulldog Smith to its midfield brigade, which also includes premiership quartet Patrick Dangerfield, Mark Blicavs, Mitch Duncan and Cam Guthrie, who are all over 30.

Before officially landing Smith, the Cats also met with Clayton Oliver amid suggestions the Melbourne superstar midfielder wanted out. Oliver ultimately decided to remain at the Demons — the club he’s contracted to until at least 2030 — but it’s expected the Cats will be linked to him again this year.