David King has predicted Gold Coast young gun Matthew Rowell to achieve a unique double in 2021.
King has backed Rowell to win the Brownlow Medal and the AFL Rising Star award in the same season, something that has never been achieved in the game’s history.
The prodigiously talented 19-year-old starred early in his debut year before a serious shoulder prematurely ended his season.
King says the midfielder will continue to attract votes when he makes his long-awaited return.
“Matty Rowell, I just think this guy is going to get all the votes up there,” he told SEN’s Whateley.
“He’s going to be like Patrick Dangerfield wherever Patrick’s been. Whether it be Adelaide or Geelong.
“They’re just such a presence and their numbers are so strong, game after game. You’ve already seen what he did last year. He got nine Brownlow votes, three best on grounds in four opportunities.
“I think one man can change a club so much.
“Lachie Neale went to Brisbane and changed their whole contested possession profile. We saw Dangerfield go to Geelong and do the same.
“He’s not your normal kid. I just hope that he has a clear run at the season and if he does … they’ll be winning a lot more than five games.”
King expects the Suns to win more games this season with Rowell back in the fold and their abundance of top-end young talent on the rise.
“I can’t tip him to win the Brownlow and the Rising Star and not have them (winning) 12-plus games,” the North Melbourne champion added.
“They’re not going to gradually improve. They’ve got such elite draft picks and these guys have had two to three years now.
“You talk to any player who has done a third pre-season, they become a man. They know more about their own game.
“Everything changes third year in my opinion and most of this talent is third year now."
Gold Coast have never made the finals since their inception in 2011.