AFL fans and commentators are expressing their sympathy for Matt Rowell after the young star’s maiden Brownlow Medal was completely overshadowed on Monday night. The Gold Coast midfielder scored a massive upset win over Collingwood’s red-hot favourite Nick Daicos to collect the AFL’s highest individual honour.
Rowell polled a whopping 39 votes – the second-most in Brownlow history – finishing seven ahead of Daicos in second place on 32. Rowell was declared the winner with two rounds left, while Geelong star Bailey Smith (29) and Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson (27) rounded out the top-four.
Rowell became the second Gold Coast player to win the Brownlow after Gary Ablett Jr in 2013, after he surged to 20 votes after 11 rounds. He became the first player in Brownlow history to score a maximum 12 votes in the first four games of the season.
Matt Rowell celebrated with family after claiming the Brownlow Medal. Image: Getty
But his victory has been unfairly overshadowed by renewed complaints about the Brownlow voting system. Rowell polled a number of questionable votes, and was awarded three in three games where he didn’t even receive a single coach’s vote.
He scored the maximum votes in Round 4 against Adelaide for 17 disposals, eight tackles and clangers, as well as in Round 7 against Sydney for 16 disposals, seven clearances and 10 clangers. It was the same in Round 9 against the Western Bulldogs for 20 disposals and five clearances, despite not being close to the highest-rated player on the ground in any of those games.
The biggest shock of the night came when Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera only polled two votes instead of three for sparking the biggest fourth-quarter comeback in AFL/VFL history when St Kilda beat Melbourne in Round 20. There were audible gasps and laughter when Wanganeen-Milera only got two votes, with Demons captain Max Gawn summing up the situation with shocked laughter.
Fresh calls for Brownlow voting change
It’s sparked fresh calls for the Brownlow voting to be taken out of the hands of the umpires – as has been the case for the last few years. Daicos has now finished second on two occasions, with many believing he’s been robbed of at least one Brownlow.
Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas wrote on social media: “You have to scroll a long way down the page in Round 9 to find Rowell. 32nd rated player on the field. No wonder he shook his head when awarded 3 votes. I’m sure it will be investigated.”
Tom Rockliff wrote: “I am a huge Matty Rowell fan.. like position 1A on the plane.. but how does he have 18 votes after first nine games?” While 2008 Brownlow winner Adam Cooney declared: “This might be the last year the umpires get to do it.”
Speaking last year, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said the league is comfortable with the current system where the umpires vote. It came amid reports the umpires had asked for access to stats before casting their votes, but were denied by the AFL.
AFL world showers Matt Rowell with support
Collingwood great Nathan Buckley declared it’s time for the league to stop viewing the Brownlow as the top award in the AFL, and that the coach’s award should be the higher honour. On Monday night, AFL fans and commentators were quick to rally around Rowell and heap praise on the youngster.
Many described it as “sad” and “horrible” that the biggest moment of his young career had turned into a sideshow. Jon Ralph of the Herald Sun wrote: “Love everything about Matt. The way he plays, his loyalty to the club, his ferocity at the contest. A worthy winner. Let’s find a way to refine the voting with some more assistance to the umpires so we can celebrate the winner, not scratch our heads at the bizarre voting.”
Another person wrote: “NAS (Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera) not getting 3 is the final nail in the coffin. It’s lost all credibility and it’s very sad and it’s going to undermine a win for a very talented young man in Rowell. He’s a star don’t get me wrong. But this is nuts.”
While another added: “A lot is going to be spoken about the votes, and perhaps the unexpected votes for Matt Rowell… BUT. Let’s not undermine the season he had. He’s been open about the fact that his game had to evolve, and it did. Matt is walking evidence that re-inventing your game is not only possible, but genuinely vital in todays modern footy.”
Matt Rowell celebrates with his Brownlow Medal. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Matt Rowell a worthy Brownlow Medal winner
Making the situation even sadder was the way Rowell spoke about the adversity he’d overcome to get where he is. “Getting drafted as No.1 pick and playing some games early, and doing reasonably well and getting a taste for it, and then getting injured – I had never been injured before,” Rowell said.
“Growing up loving footy, so when that was taken away, I didn’t really know what to do, but I think I learnt a lot about myself when I got injured. I learnt lessons that you have got to have a balance as well. Footy is not everything.
“Although it was devastating at the time to get injured, I think it was really good for me as a person. I have been lucky enough to stay injury free since those first few, but I think it taught me a lot of lessons.”
with AAP