“Actually, I was playing in Darwin in a game a few years ago, and they said, ‘We saw you eat the grass before the game, but, it goes through the sewerage, the grass or something, so you might want to get yourself checked that nothing is wrong with you’ – that was a bit of a strange one.”
Rowell said playing in the AFL had been his dream since he was a young lad. A passionate Carlton supporter, he wore Eddie Betts’ number on his back as a junior, and still has Blues premiership player Michael Sexton as a mentor.
Rowell’s win was a boilover, given Daicos was widely considered the pre-count favourite.
In the latter stages of the count, there was complete disbelief in the room when Melbourne veteran Jack Viney was awarded three votes, and St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera only two, despite the latter leading the Saints to a remarkable come-from-behind win over Melbourne in round 20.
Wanganeen-Milera had 34 disposals and four goals, including two goals in a stunning final minute, as the Saints overcame a 46-point deficit at three-quarter-time to win.
It was the biggest comeback in VFL/AFL history, from the final change to victory. Viney had 23 touches and one goal.
Cats star Jeremy Cameron signalled for a review of the count after the votes were awarded.
There were even Bronx cheers when Wanganeen-Milera was awarded three votes for his performance against North Melbourne in the next round.
The Suns enjoyed their maiden finals campaign this season, with Rowell averaging almost 27 disposals per game. His robust work at stoppages and new-found burst of speed was central to the Suns’ rise – and the umpires acknowledged his contribution.
He became the second Sun to claim the sport’s top individual honour, joining Gary Ablett jnr (2013).
Rowell created history when he had four best-on-grounds after his four opening matches of the season – the first time this had ever been done. His superb start came against West Coast, Melbourne, Adelaide and North Melbourne. He had only 17 disposals against the Crows, a game many had thought he would not poll a vote in, but his influence was still strong.
Daicos joined him atop the leaderboard after earning three votes against Brisbane in round six, but another best afield, this time against Sydney in round seven, again made Rowell the outright leader, the first time a player had 15 votes after round seven, according to Seven.
Another three votes followed in round nine – extending his tally to 18 of a possible 24 – in the win over the Western Bulldogs in round nine in Darwin.
Rowell had two votes against Hawthorn in round 10, finishing the round five ahead of Fremantle midfielder Andrew Brayshaw. Daicos was seven votes behind, along with Max Gawn and Smith, who ultimately finished third in the count (29).
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera couldn’t believe his luck at one stage.Credit: AFL Photos
Rowell still held a five-vote lead after round 11, Dawson, the Crows skipper, making his run with three votes against West Coast.
“I am a bit surprised to be in this position … but it’s nice,” Rowell said at the time.
The count began to tighten from that moment.
As Rowell briefly stalled, Smith had best on grounds against West Coast and Essendon, while Brayshaw joined Smith in second spot. Brayshaw had three best on grounds early in the season.
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Daicos polled three votes against St Kilda in round 15, but Rowell responded with another best afield of his own, against GWS. Daicos then had three votes against West Coast, but Rowell retained a slim margin with two votes against Melbourne.
Daicos briefly tied the count with a best afield effort against Carlton in round 17, but Rowell had two votes against Essendon. Rowell then had two votes – with Daicos failing to poll – when the Suns hosted the Magpies in round 18.
Rowell extended his lead with two votes against the Crows, and had the medal secured with two votes against Carlton in round 22, prompting league chief Andrew Dillon to race through the remaining rounds. Dillon was praised for maintaining a strong pace through the evening.
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Rowell and teammate and long-time friend Noah Anderson (25 votes) polled 64 votes together which, according to Seven, is a tally two teammates have never accumulated before. Rowell claimed he had pinched some votes that Anderson should have received this season but he also declared his love for his good friend.
“Getting drafted as No.1 pick and playing some games early and doing reasonably well and getting a taste for it and then getting injured. I had never been injured before,” Rowell said.
“It was something that was pretty foreign to me. Growing up, I was loving footy, so when that was taken away, I didn’t really know what to do, but I think I learnt a lot about myself when I got injured.
“I learnt lessons that you have got to have a balance as well. I was a footy nut growing up and probably was a bit of a weirdo too. I carried footys around everywhere. I think it showed me a bit of balance, too. Footy is not everything as well.”
Fremantle forward Murphy Reid, a former Sandringham Dragons star, was named the Rising Star of the year, polling 48 votes, ahead of Adelaide’s Dan Curtin (35 votes) and Brisbane’s Levi Ashcroft (26).
Anderson, the Suns’ skipper, won goal of the year for his superb running effort from the centre square in the win over Collingwood in round 18 at the Gabba.
Western Bulldog Sam Darcy claimed mark of the year for his spectacular, match-saving grab against Melbourne in round 22 at the MCG.
Brisbane Lions skipper Harris Andrews won the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award for his work as an ambassador for domestic and family violence group, Beyond DV.
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