Gold Coast's Matt Rowell Clinches 2025 Brownlow Medal in Upset Victory

Gold Coast Suns midfielder Matt Rowell has won the 2025 Brownlow Medal, securing a significant upset over the favorite, Collingwood's Nick Daicos. Rowell amassed a remarkable 39 votes, confirming his win with three games remaining in the season, thanks to a dominant start that included a record 12 votes from his first four matches. Despite Daicos pushing hard in the closing rounds and finishing with 32 votes, Rowell's consistent performance, including an average of nearly 27 disposals per game, was central to the Suns' maiden finals campaign. The medal count featured some controversy, notably when St Kilda's Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera received fewer votes than expected for a historic comeback game, prompting calls for a review. Rowell’s pre-game ritual of nibbling grass as a grounding process was highlighted as a quirky personal detail. This victory marks Rowell as only the second Suns player to claim the sport's highest individual honor, underscoring his breakout season.