Matt Rowell reveals grass-eating ritual as Brownlow Medal winner

Gold Coast Suns midfielder Matt Rowell has won the Brownlow Medal, finishing with 39 votes to deny Nick Daicos of Collingwood by seven. Rowell's victory, announced at Crown Palladium on Monday night, marks the Suns' second Brownlow winner after Gary Ablett Jr. in 2013.

Rowell's grass-eating pre-match ritual has been a talking point since a 2023 moment when he was pictured eating grass at a stadium before a game. The 24-year-old later described it as a grounding practice designed to engage his senses: feel, sight, taste. 'I started doing that [eating grass] a few years ago. You try a lot of weird things and that was kind of like a grounding process that I wanted to do before games. Feel, sight, taste, obviously.' He added that there is 'another reason why I am a weirdo,' explaining he carries a Sherrin around with him everywhere he goes.

Rowell surged to 20 votes after 11 rounds and finished with 39, seven ahead of Nick Daicos in second place on 32. Bailey Smith (29) and Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson (27) completed the top four. The victory was described by Rowell as surreal. 'There was nothing really that I thought of doing, apart from playing AFL footy,' he said, noting he was speechless to accept the award in front of a packed Crown Palladium.

The win also marked a significant milestone for the Suns, who reached the finals for the first time in 15 seasons and progressed to the semi-finals before losing to Brisbane. Rowell, picked in the 2019 draft, endured serious injuries in his first two seasons but has not missed a game since Round 13, 2021, a run he credited to a steady focus on his football.

Rowell's emergence comes amid a historical Brownlow count filled with notable moments. He finished atop a field that included Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield, who overtook Gary Ablett Jr. to claim the record for most three-vote games in Brownlow history, with 56. In a round 20 twist, Melbourne's Jack Viney was awarded three votes in place of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who had 34 disposals and four goals in a standout Saint performance, underscoring how the count can hinge on fine margins. Fremantle's Murphy Reid was recognized with Rising Star honors for a brilliant rookie season, capping a strong year for young players across the league.

Ultimately, Rowell's victory makes him just the second Suns player to win the Brownlow, joining Ablett Jr., and he described the moment as a culmination of years of hard work and a belief that he could reach AFL football's highest individual honor. 'I came in tonight and was just happy to maybe be one of the contenders. I didn't think I would win, and it is amazing to be standing up here. I am pretty speechless,' Rowell said after accepting the trophy. 'There’s another reason why I’m a weirdo'—a nod to his unconventional pre-match ritual and his self-described status as a footy nerd—has become part of the narrative surrounding his rise.