Geelong’s ‘secret meeting’ to lure Matt Rowell back to Vic revealed
Geelong is eyeing another young star to add to its midfield brigade with off-contract Gold Coast ball magnet Matt Rowell in its sights.
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Geelong is eyeing another young star to add to its midfield brigade with off-contract Gold Coast ball magnet Matt Rowell in the club’s sights, reports 7News Melbourne.
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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.
And at least one rival club reportedly is already circling.
7News Melbourne reporter Mitch Cleary reported on Monday night that the Cats held “a secret meeting” with Rowell late last year, adding that the club views Rowell as “the perfect fit to complement Max Holmes and Bailey Smith” in the midfield.
“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.
“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.”
As Rowell remains ineligible for free agency, the Cats would have to strike a trade with the Suns if they wanted to land the on-baller during the trade period later 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.
After bursting onto the AFL scene with three best-on-ground performances across his first four games before shoulder and knee injuries struck, Rowell has become an integral member of Gold Coast’s midfield.
He’s played all 68 games for the Suns across the past three seasons, leading to three consecutive top-six best and fairest finishes.
Rowell lauded the Gold Coast as a great destination for any athlete to reside in.
“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.”
Originally published as Geelong’s ‘secret meeting’ to lure Matt Rowell back to Vic revealed
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