Overview
- The Gold Coast midfielder finished on 39 votes, the second-highest tally in Brownlow history, ahead of Nick Daicos on 32 and Bailey Smith on 29.
- Rowell became the first player to earn maximum votes in each of his first four games, logged eight best-on-grounds, and polled across 17 matches.
- His breakout season also powered the Suns to their first finals campaign, and he joins Gary Ablett Jr as the club’s second Brownlow medallist.
- Late-count controversy flared when Jack Viney received three votes over Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera’s Round 20 heroics, fueling debate about umpire voting even as some defended the award’s tradition.
- Daicos recorded his third straight podium finish as pre-count expectations of a tight five-man race gave way to Rowell’s wire-to-wire lead.