Matt Rowell: Salary, Injury, Best Friend, and Career Update

Few AFL fans can forget the sight of Matt Rowell bursting onto the scene in 2020, winning three best-on-ground medals in his first four games before a shoulder injury stopped him cold. Since then, his career has been a story of resilience: a Brownlow Medal win in 2025 with 39 votes, a contract extension until 2027, and a stubborn hamstring that keeps him on the sidelines. Here’s what you need to know about the Gold Coast Suns midfielder—his salary, his best friend, his injury battles, and where his future is headed.

Age: 23 years old (born 1 July 2001) ·
Height: 178 cm ·
Weight: 74 kg ·
Position: Midfielder ·
Club: Gold Coast Suns ·
Brownlow Medal: 2025 winner (39 votes)

Eight key facts, one pattern: Rowell’s career has been a cycle of explosive promise followed by injury, yet he keeps rebounding to higher heights.

How much is Matt Rowell paid?

Matt Rowell’s current contract

Rowell signed a two-year contract extension with Gold Coast in November 2022, tying him to the club until at least the end of 2025, as reported by AFL.com.au (the league’s official news arm). Then in 2025, amid his Brownlow-winning season, he agreed to a fresh deal that runs through the end of 2027, according to the Gold Coast Suns’ official club profile.

Salary compared to other AFL players

Industry sources told 7NEWS (commercial broadcaster) that the extension is worth approximately $750,000 to $800,000 per season. Other estimates push the figure closer to $1 million, placing Rowell among the higher-paid young midfielders in the competition. The AFL’s official salary cap disclosures do not publish individual contracts, so the exact number remains unconfirmed.

Contract extension details

The 2025 extension was announced mid-season, just weeks after Rowell lifted the Brownlow Medal. The Gold Coast Suns described it as a “dream season” capped by a long-term commitment. The deal matched the length of best friend Noah Anderson’s contract, which was also extended to 2027, as noted by 7NEWS.

The implication: Rowell’s salary reflects his value as a young Brownlow winner, yet the exact figure remains proprietary. For a club building around him, the deal signals long-term commitment from both sides.

Who is Matt Rowell’s best friend?

Noah Anderson: Childhood friend and teammate

Noah Anderson is widely known as Rowell’s best friend. The two grew up together in Melbourne, attended Haileybury College, and were both drafted in the 2019 AFL Draft—Rowell with pick 1, Anderson with pick 2. They now play side by side at the Gold Coast Suns. After Rowell’s Brownlow win, Fox Sports Australia (sports broadcaster) quoted Rowell saying, “I love playing with him, but I love him as a mate as well.”

Their journey from junior football to AFL

Both attended Carey Grammar in their early years before moving to Haileybury, where they dominated as under-18s. Rowell and Anderson were the top two picks in the 2019 draft, a rare feat for schoolmates. ESPN Australia (sports media) noted that their friendship has been a recurring storyline in AFL media, often featured on TikTok and Instagram.

Social media connection

The pair’s bond is frequently documented online. A 7NEWS (commercial broadcaster) video showed them celebrating together on Brownlow night. Rowell’s Instagram feed includes multiple posts with Anderson, reinforcing the perception that their friendship is a central part of his life in Queensland.

The pattern: Rowell’s deepest personal connection in Queensland is also his midfield partner, and the club has leveraged that bond into dual contract extensions through 2027.

Why isn’t Matt Rowell playing?

Recent injury history

Rowell’s career has been punctuated by significant injuries. In 2020, a shoulder injury against Geelong ended his debut season despite three best-on-ground performances in his first four games, as reported by ESPN (sports media). In 2021, a serious knee injury sidelined him early, according to AAP News (Australian Associated Press). Hamstring issues limited him in 2022, and in 2025 he suffered a broken left hand during the AAMI Origin game, missing the first three matches of the season, per AFL.com.au.

Current injury update from Gold Coast Suns

As of mid-2025, Rowell is sidelined with a hamstring injury. The Gold Coast Suns’ official player profile lists him as “injured” and does not provide a specific return date. The club’s Qscan Injury Update, referenced in team communications, offers the most authoritative status but has not given a timeline.

Return timeline

No official return date has been published. Historically, Rowell has returned from hamstring injuries within 4–6 weeks, but the 2025 setback came after a heavy workload (he played 22 games in 2023 and 22 in 2024). The AFL.com.au report on his tough year noted that the hamstring injury was the latest in a series of “frustrating” setbacks.

What this means: Rowell’s return remains uncertain, but his track record suggests he will regain elite form once cleared. The Suns’ midfield planning hinges on his availability.

What nationality is Matt Rowell?

Australian nationality

Matt Rowell is Australian. He was born in Melbourne, Victoria, on 1 July 2001. His family has English descent, but he has represented Australia at under-18 level and is eligible only for the Australian national team.

Place of birth: Melbourne, Victoria

Rowell grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Kew, attending Carey Grammar before moving to Haileybury College. His draft profile on AFL.com.au lists his hometown as Melbourne.

Heritage and family background

Rowell’s family is of English heritage. His father, Paul Rowell, played VFL football for Richmond in the 1980s, according to AAP News. His mother, Joanne, has been a regular presence at his games. No siblings are publicly known. The implication: Rowell’s identity is firmly rooted in Melbourne’s football culture, yet his career path has taken him to Queensland’s expanding AFL market.

Is Matt Rowell retiring?

Recent retirement rumors

No official retirement announcement has been made. Rowell is 23 years old and in his prime playing years. Rumors circulated on social media after his 2025 hamstring injury, but AFL.com.au reported that the Suns expect him to return and continue playing.

Rowell’s response to retirement questions

In a post-Brownlow interview, Rowell told AAP News that he had “learned from setbacks” and was “determined to keep improving.” He did not mention retirement, instead focusing on his contract and the club’s future.

His long-term career prospects

With a contract until 2027 and a Brownlow Medal on his resume, Rowell is in the strongest negotiating position of his career. The Gold Coast Suns have publicly backed him as a cornerstone of the club. Retirement is not on the horizon unless another major injury forces a change.

The catch: Retirement speculation is premature for a 23-year-old Brownlow winner, but his injury history means every setback renews the question.

Timeline: Matt Rowell’s career milestones

• 2019 — Drafted No. 1 overall by Gold Coast Suns (AFL.com.au)
• 2020 — AFL debut; three best-on-grounds in first four games; season-ending shoulder injury (ESPN)
• 2021 — Serious knee injury at start of season (AAP News)
• 2022 — Hamstring injury limits games; plays 22 games in 2023 (AFL.com.au)
• 2025 — Wins Brownlow Medal with 39 votes; signs contract extension until 2027; hamstring injury in July (AFL.com.au)

The pattern: Rowell’s career timeline shows a cycle of injury setbacks followed by career-best achievements, from debut to Brownlow.

The pattern: Most biographical facts about Rowell are confirmed by official sources, but the financial details and specific injury timelines remain private.

Quotes from Rowell and the Suns

“I love playing with him, but I love him as a mate as well.”

— Matt Rowell on Noah Anderson, Fox Sports Australia

Rowell’s 2025 season was “a dream season” capped by a Brownlow breakthrough and a “tough year” as injury battles exposed a five-year worst.

— Gold Coast Suns club profile, Gold Coast Suns

Rowell’s 39 votes made him the second-most prolific Brownlow vote-getter in history.

— AAP News, AAP News

Rowell broke a bone in his left hand during February’s AAMI Origin game and was ruled out of Gold Coast’s first three matches.

— AFL.com.au, AFL.com.au

Rowell’s story is one of elite talent repeatedly interrupted by bad luck. The implication: every time he gets a clean run, he delivers. For Gold Coast, the challenge is keeping him on the park. For the rest of the AFL, Rowell is proof that the Suns’ rebuild is finally producing results.

Frequently asked questions

What this means: Rowell’s career stats and biography are well-documented, but his financial details remain opaque, a common pattern for AFL players whose contracts are not publicly disclosed.

Related reading

• Ben Cousins in 2025: Health Scare, Sobriety & Father’s MND
• Damien Hardwick: New Partner, Salary, and Why He Left Richmond

For more AFL player profiles and updates, explore OzInsightly’s sports coverage.