<h2>Matt Rowell Wins 2025 Brownlow Medal – Three Point Summary:</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>- &nbsp; Gold Coast midfielder Matt Rowell claims the 2025 Brownlow Medal with 39 votes, defeating Nick Daicos by seven votes.</p> <p>- &nbsp; The former number one draft pick becomes the Suns' second Brownlow medallist after Gary Ablett Jr.</p> <p>- &nbsp; Rowell's outstanding season included career-best averages and helped Gold Coast achieve their best ever home and away campaign.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Rowell's Brownlow Medal Victory Caps Breakout Season</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The 24-year-old midfielder's Brownlow Medal triumph represents the culmination of a remarkable individual campaign that saw him pair his maiden All-Australian selection with the AFL's most prestigious individual honour.</p> <p>Starting the count as an outsider, Rowell immediately announced his intentions by accumulating maximum votes from his opening four rounds.</p> <p>By round 10, the Gold Coast star had established a commanding position atop the Brownlow Medal leaderboard with 20 votes from a possible 27.</p> <p>This early dominance set the foundation for what would become a memorable evening at Crown Palladium.</p> <p>Rowell's consistency throughout the season proved decisive, polling maximum votes in eight games and recording votes in 16 matches overall.</p> <p>His career-best averages of 26.2 disposals, 8.5 tackles and 8.2 clearances per game demonstrated the complete midfielder he has developed into since being selected as the number one draft pick.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Late Challenge Falls Short for Brownlow Medal Contenders</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The middle stages of the count provided drama as Fremantle's Andrew Brayshaw and Geelong's Bailey Smith mounted serious challenges.</p> <p>Both players trailed Rowell by just a single vote at the conclusion of Round 14, while pre-count favourite Nick Daicos remained within striking distance throughout.</p> <p>However, Rowell had an answer for every challenge thrown his way. A crucial maximum vote performance against Brisbane Lions in round 20 effectively sealed his Brownlow Medal victory, providing the buffer needed to withstand any late surge from his rivals.</p> <p>The final leaderboard reflected Rowell's dominance, with the Gold Coast midfielder finishing seven votes clear of Daicos (32 votes), while Smith claimed third place with 29 votes. Adelaide's Jordan Dawson (27 votes) and Brayshaw (26 votes) rounded out the top five.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Gold Coast's Second Brownlow Medal Winner</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Rowell's Brownlow Medal triumph makes him just the second player in Gold Coast Suns history to claim the award, following AFL legend Gary Ablett Jr.</p> <p>This achievement carries extra significance given the club's relatively brief existence and ongoing development as a competitive force.</p> <p>The midfielder's exceptional season coincided with Gold Coast's best ever home and away campaign, with the team securing 15 wins to finish seventh on the ladder.</p> <p>This collective success provided the platform for Rowell's individual brilliance to shine through consistently.</p> <p>His transformation from promising young talent to Brownlow Medal winner represents a significant milestone for both player and club.</p> <p>The former number one draft pick has fulfilled the enormous potential that saw him selected ahead of his peers, overcoming early career injury setbacks to establish himself among the AFL's elite midfielders.</p> <p>Rowell's 39-vote haul places him among an exclusive group of Brownlow Medal winners, with his total reflecting both individual excellence and the competitive nature of modern AFL football.</p> <p>His ability to poll votes consistently across the season, rather than relying on a few dominant performances, demonstrated the sustained quality that separates genuine stars from talented players.</p> <p>The Gold Coast midfielder's Brownlow Medal victory provides a fitting reward for a season that established him as one of the AFL's premier midfielders and gives the Suns their second individual champion in club history.</p> <p>While Rowell&nbsp;and the Suns won’t be involved, there is still one more game to play this season. Check out the AFL Grand Final 2025 Odds below!</p>