The Sydney Swans' second selection in the 2018 national draft, Rowbottom built his game on pressure: nobody in the competition laid more tackles than his 186 in 2024, a year that also brought the Barry Round Best Clubman Award. The 186cm Oakleigh Chargers product debuted against Richmond in 2019 and played every match of 2025, averaging 7.3 tackles. He has played 162 AFL games and kicked 53 goals.