Gold Coast Suns fans breathed a collective sigh of relief on Sunday when it was revealed star midfielder Matt Rowell had chosen to re-sign with the club for another two years.
Pen is yet to be put to paper, but it is believed Rowell will likely remain in the Sunshine State until 2027, taking him up to the pending free agency period where another contract decision looms large.
The 23-year-old had drawn interest from several big Victorian clubs, including Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs, with many sensing a potential change of scenery could be on the horizon as time progressed.
Usually, a player is more likely to leave his current club if he remains unsigned by Round 15, but in Rowell’s case, it appears he’s willing to stay on the course with Damien Hardwick leading a serious finals charge.
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Rowell is believed to have personally phoned both Collingwood and the Bulldogs, the two clubs he was reportedly most impressed with when they met during the offseason.
The Pies were listed as one of four teams ‘waiting by the phone’ last week, while Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge played coy when asked about Rowell’s decision in his post-game press conference on Sunday.
“He’ll play good footy for them over the next couple of years beyond this one then who knows what he’ll do after that,” Beveridge told reporters, suggesting he had prior knowledge of Rowell’s decision to sign for only two years.
“Matt and I did meet a while ago and loved the connection and really enjoyed it. We have some common interests,” Beveridge went on to say.
Matt Rowell will re-sign with the Suns, per @cleary_mitch ☀️ pic.twitter.com/iED8cf2vvb
— 7AFL (@7AFL) June 22, 2025
Now sitting outside the eight following Sunday’s loss to the Giants, Rowell’s decision to remain on the Gold Coast is a turning point for a club that has seen marquee players like Steven May and Tom Lynch depart in recent years.
The Pies will now set their sights on another trade target before the season ends, while the Dogs’ focus shifts to resigning their own star midfielder, Marcus Bontempelli.