‘Really bad injury’: Gold Coast Suns’ Matt Rowell’s 12-week knee injury

Gold Coast Suns wunderkind Matt Rowell set the AFL alight in the early stages of last season but his run of bad luck has brutally continued.

Matt Rowell looked in a bad way.

The Gold Coast Suns’ Matt Rowell showed he was a genuine superstar talent in the opening rounds of his AFL career but the 19-year-old has suffered another horror injury.

The injury added to the 12.11 (83) to 8.10 (58) loss with the West Coast Eagles racing away in the final quarter for the 25-point win.

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But the big story was Rowell.

After a shoulder injury derailed his 2020 season, the young gun didn’t last long when he was starring down another long stint on the sidelines.

It was in the first quarter when Rowell was tackled from behind by the Eagles’ Zac Langdon with the young star falling on his knee and in clear pain.

He was helped from the field and replaced by the injury sub Nick Holman.

Rowell did walk off the field but was seen at halftime on crutches with his knee in a brace.

The initial reports was not good with Fox Footy boundary rider Matthew Pavlich reporting “They’re fearing a really bad injury”.

This was the tackle that caused the injury.

At halftime, Fox Footy spoke about the injury with reports it could be a PCL, or Posterior Cruciate Ligament, injury, which would take “six weeks on crutches and six weeks of rehab”.

The PCL is most commonly injured in a car accident when the knee hits the dashboard.

But Suns coach Stuart Dew did give some good news, admitting “it’s not serious, serious”.

“It’s serious enough but what we can tell now, it’ll keep him out, from what we can tell right now, for a few weeks, but we don’t think it’s anything too major,” he said.

While the AFL are all hoping the injury isn’t as bad as first feared after Rowell missed most of his rookie season with a serious shoulder injury.

“It’s such a shame,” Brad Johnson said. “It was just the pressure that comes through, all the weight fell on the left knee. You had Langdon as well, another 80kg-odd squashing down. There you can see, Matty Rowell in the brace and starts rehab again in getting himself right for the second half of the season, finger’s crossed.”

Garry Lyon added: “It’s a horrible situation for a kid who has ripped the game apart and we thought we were being privy to something pretty extraordinary and he’s barely played a game since.”

“You almost feel robbed as footy fans,” Sarah Jones said. “You heart goes out to Matty as well who must want to just throw himself into his football career. But the club of the Gold Coast Suns that are relying so much on him to have an impact. And footy fans that sense that this could be a once-in-a-generation talent we’re seeing here.”

Horror scenes for Matt Rowell.

Lyon added that Rowell didn’t have any great hope of getting back.

Social media was quick to react as the AFL appeared frustrated the superstar-in-the-making was sidelined early once again.

Most importantly 🤞 we see Matt Rowell again soon! Shocking run of luck.

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) March 21, 2021

Matt Rowell hurt again. That’s tough - out of the game. @7NewsPerth

— adrian barich (@adrianbarich) March 21, 2021

- Gawn and Grundy less than satisfactory
- Rowe and Flynn on bench
- Neale bang average
- Rowell injury.

Round one can ship off. #SuperCoachpic.twitter.com/TaheulGyCx

— Jack Hudson (@jhudson_10) March 21, 2021

Although the Gold Coast was without its brightest star, the Suns were taking it to the Eagles, fighting back from three early goals down to take the lead in the third quarter.

But it wasn’t enough as the Eagles romped back in the final quarter for a 12.11 (83) to 8.10 (58) win.