Gold Coast SUNS midfielder Matt Rowell has won the 2023 Players’ Player award after a career-best season in the red and gold.

The Players’ Player award is voted on by the playing group after each match to reward the player who has best lived the team’s values on-field throughout the season.

Rowell played every match of the season for the second year running and was voted as the players’ best on three occasions in 2023.

Over a span of 23 games, Rowell averaged 21 disposals, eight clearances and eight tackles per game while also kicking a career-high seven goals.

The 22-year-old also set a new AFL record for most tackles in a home and away season with 190 for the year.

He finished the season ranked first in the AFL for pressure acts and second for contested possessions and clearances.

Rowell joins a list of previous Players’ Player winners which includes Touk Miller (2019-22), David Swallow (2017, 2019, 2020) and Jarrod Harbrow (2016, 2018).