Rowell’s outstanding performance not surprising
MATT Rowell’s best-onground effort for the Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night was the least surprising breakout performance in recent AFL history.
Just a couple of weeks shy of his 19th birthday, the midfielder finished with 26 disposals, seven tackles, six rebound 50s, five clearances, three inside 50s, two goals and one goal assist in the Suns’ outstanding win over West Coast.
And all in just his second game of senior football.
It is not right to say the kid is a freak.
Because he’s not a kid. As Suns senior coach Stuart Dew quite rightly points out, last year’s No. 1 draft pick plays like a man already.
A young man who will be a bona fide AFL superstar for the next 15 years with strength, skill and game savvy to go with a level of professionalism and the work ethic of a seasoned pro that has his new teammates raving. He’s got it all, already.
The only thing he is missing is a lifetime sunscreen sponsor given his very fair complexion and red hair is not conducive to living on the Gold Coast.
Rowell pretty much knew for years that he would be the No. 1 draft pick in 2019 given he was the standout player in his age group nationally for a long time. The measured and self-assured way he conducted himself during the helter skelter week of the national draft in Melbourne late last spoke volumes without being arrogant.
The rose-growing and football-collecting enthusiast was where he expected to be.
That same sense of self-assuredness was on show at Metricon Stadium against the Eagles.
Rowell was right where he expected to be.
There have been plenty of false dawns at the Suns but hopefully the thumping victory over the premiership favyear ever ourites was a sign of things to come.
At last year’s draft, a picture was taken of the club’s top three draft picks in 2018 and 2019 all together in their bright red polo shirts.
Rowell, Noah Anderson, Ben King and Jack Lukosius were together again out on the field on Saturday night against West Coast with Sam Flanders and Izak Rakine yet to debut.
The challenge is keeping them together and letting them grow as a core.