Matt Rowell Wins 2025 Brownlow Medal

Gold Coast midfielder Matt Rowell won the 2025 Brownlow Medal, polling a tournament-high 39 votes, seven clear of favourite Nick Daicos on 32. Geelong’s Bailey Smith finished third with 29 votes and Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson was fourth on 27. Rowell became the Suns’ second Brownlow winner after Gary Ablett Jr and capped a breakout season that included Gold Coast’s first finals run to the semifinals. The count included controversies and milestones, including a disputed three-vote allocation to Jack Viney over Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera in one round and Patrick Dangerfield overtaking Gary Ablett Jr for the most three-vote games in Brownlow history. Fremantle rookie Murphy Reid won the Rising Star. Off-field moments included red-carpet fashion and Bailey Smith naming his jiu-jitsu coach as his Brownlow date.