Gold Coast Suns bull Matthew Rowell crunched in Brownlow Medal betting after stunning start to career

Gold Coast revelation Matthew Rowell has long been compared to Joel Selwood and the stats suggest he could rocket past the Geelong captain. Just how good can the young Sun be?

Sam Landsberger

@samlandsberger

3 min read

June 29, 2020 - 12:10PM

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 27: Matthew Rowell of the Suns kicks the ball during the round 4 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and Fremantle Dockers at Metricon Stadium on June 27, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

AFL

Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.

The youngest Brownlow winner since the 1930s says the shortened season will only help Matthew Rowell’s chances of becoming just the second teenager in VFL-AFL history to win the medal.

Former Essendon star Gavin Wanganeen, who was just 20 when he collected the 1993 award, has been blown away by Rowell’s sizzling run.

“He’s built well with big, strong bones and he loves the contest,” Wanganeen said yesterday.

“It’s not the normal 22-game season and if someone’s ever going to do it at such a young age it might just be tilted a little bit in his favour.

“In this type of season, 17 rounds, you just never know.”

Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Watch every match of every round Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

Essendon’s Dick Reynolds was 19 when he won the first of three Brownlows in 1934.

Rowell, who turns 19 on Wednesday, was born 11 days later in the year than Reynolds however the delayed finish to the 2020 season would probably see Reynolds hold on to the record even if Rowell tops this year’s count.

The Gold Coast Suns bull has emerged as the game’s No. 1 player since the season restarted and he would be a walk-up start in the All-Australian midfield after Round 4.

Rowell leads the Herald Sun’s award after polling the maximum nine votes in the past three weeks and he is every chance to also have polled nine Brownlow votes.

One punter has placed $900 on Matthew Rowell to win the Brownlow Medal at $21.

The TAB yesterday crunched Rowell into $8, behind only Lachie Neale ($5) and Patrick Cripps ($7).

Rowell was inserted into the market as an $81 chance after he monstered West Coast’s premiership midfield in Round 2 and more money has been wagered on him than any other player.

Former Bombers champion Matthew Lloyd said Geelong should use Cameron Guthrie to tag Rowell at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.

Hawthorn and Carlton play the Suns after that and often use Liam Shiels and Ed Curnow respectively to shutdown the opposition’s best player.

No. 1 draft pick Matt Rowell has been a revelation in his debut campaign.

But Wanganeen said closer attention might not even bother the former Carey Grammar student.

“He’s going to start getting more attention because opposition teams can’t allow a midfielder to kick two goals a week, which he’s done the last three weeks,” Wanganeen said.

“In saying that (coach) Stuey Dew will be rallying his troops to give him the support he needs.

“But he likes the contest so I don’t reckon it’ll faze him too much. He’s that hungry and really loving being an AFL footballer.

“He’s just got a nothing-to-lose mentality and loves the contest.”

Rowell is ranked No. 1 at the Suns for contested ball and SuperCoach points and No. 2 for disposals, clearances, score involvements and tackles.

Rowell was so unstoppable against Fremantle on Saturday night that Matt Taberner resorted to untucking his jumper from his high-waisted shorts.

Wanganeen said he would love to see Rowell leap ahead of him in the history books.

“Records are there to be broken, and I think it would be an amazing story,” he said.

“You don’t want to put too much pressure on the young lad but he’s unfortunately putting himself out there to be talked about like this.

“It is still early in the season … but come talk to me at Round 15 if he’s had another two or three BOGs, and then he might have six or seven games where he’s received top votes.

“Then he’s in that top three or four chance of winning.”

BROWNLOW MEDAL ODDS*

Source: TAB, current as of 5.30pm Sunday

Lachie Neale (BL) $5

Patrick Cripps (Carl) $7

Matthew Rowell (GC) $8

Patrick Dangerfield (Gee) $9

Marcus Bontempelli (WB) $11

Travis Boak (PA) $13

Brodie Grundy (Coll) $13

Dustin Martin (Rich) $13

Nat Fyfe (Frem) $15