In what can only be described as a Monday night plot twist, Gold Coast Suns midfielder Matt Rowell claimed a surprise victory at the Crown Palladium, taking home his maiden Brownlow Medal and leaving footy fans simultaneously cheering and scratching their heads.
The 24-year-old, who admitted he was ‘speechless’ on accepting the award, stormed past favourites Nick Daicos, Bailey Smith and Jordan Dawson, finishing top of the voting race with a whopping 39 votes.
‘I can’t believe I’m standing up here tonight,’ said the ever-humble Rowell. ‘A lot of boys could have been standing up here tonight, so I feel very humbled and very honoured.’
Rowell’s season has been nothing short of stellar. With career-best numbers, including 657 disposals and a personal record goal tally, he clearly earned his spot on the podium. ‘I’m pretty speechless to be honest,’ he added. ‘My family are massive supporters and they’re everything to me. They’re at every game and support me so much… It’s why I’m standing up here today.’
But if you thought the night was just about Rowell’s triumph, think again. The biggest drama came when Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was snubbed for three votes after a match-winning performance against Melbourne in Round 20. The crowd gasped, St Kilda players laughed hysterically, and even Channel 7 cameras looked genuinely concerned. Wanganeen-Milera booted four goals, had a game-high 34 touches, and kicked two sensational late goals to seal victory – but the umpires apparently thought he was “just okay”.
‘Excuse me,’ the Saints’ official X account tweeted after the shocking revelation, accompanied by a photo of Wanganeen-Milera with teammates Jack Steele and Marcus Windhager, looking as baffled as the rest of us. Even GWS chimed in: “Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera not getting three votes is crazy work.”
Fans were quick to vent online. One wrote, ‘That’s it, I’m done. Brownlow is officially a mockery. J Viney 3 votes, N Wanganeen-Milera 2 votes and we all know what NAS did in the last quarter.’ Another added, ‘If Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera wasn’t best on ground against Melbourne in round 20, we can’t have the umpires doing Brownlow votes anymore. #AFL.’
Meanwhile, Rowell’s own votes weren’t without scrutiny. On two occasions during the season, he won three votes in games where he seemingly underwhelmed. ‘The most underserved Brownlow since 2008. 11 votes for these games. Rowell won by 7. What a fucking joke,’ lamented one X user. Another added, ‘The Brownlow has just lost the little credibility it had left. Complete joke. Needs to seriously get looked at.’
Despite the controversy, Rowell’s achievement is historic: only the second Suns player ever to claim the Brownlow Medal and the first to poll a perfect 12 votes from his opening four games. And while the voting system continues to leave fans scratching their heads, one thing is certain – the 2025 Brownlow will be remembered for both brilliance and bafflement.
Images: AFL, St Kilda
