Rowell stood out as the leader of a dominant Suns engine room in their 18.12 (120) to 8.14 (62) win on Saturday.
An error-riddled contest was broken open when Gold Coast produced a five-goal burst in 11 minutes during the third quarter.
They enjoyed a landslide 65-40 advantage in forward entries and backed up a club-record thumping of West Coast in their season opener with their second-biggest win over Melbourne.
The result also snapped Gold Coast's 12-game losing streak against the Demons and improved their poor MCG record to 6-13.
Making matters worse for Melbourne, they lost first-round draft pick Xavier Lindsay to a left knee injury.
Rowell, who is out of contract and in demand, sent his stocks soaring further with 36 disposals and 13 clearances as best afield.
Former skipper Touk Miller kicked a career-best three goals from 23 touches and new captain Noah Anderson (35 disposals) continued his strong start in the role.
Bailey Humphrey (23 disposals) and creative defenders John Noble (29) and Daniel Rioli (20) were influential, while Ben King (four) and Will Graham (two) also kicked multiple goals.
King threatened to kick a bag but was wayward in front of goal with 4.3 and at least two other shots that failed to score on a day when a raft of skill errors from both sides made the contest tough watching.
In a rough start, Melbourne gifted the Suns their opening two goals through 50-metre penalties against experienced duo Steven May and Clayton Oliver, and lost Lindsay to a knee injury in the opening few minutes.
May was rusty on return from a fractured larynx, which kept him out of the opening two games, and Gold Coast led by 19 points at the end of a scrappy first quarter.
The visitors had twice as many inside-50s in the second term (14-7) but were inefficient and couldn't put the Demons away.
That move came during the third quarter, when a 17-point halftime buffer ballooned to 43 as Miller, King (two each) and Witts combined for five goals in 11 minutes.
The Suns ran away with it, kicking six goals to two in the final term.
Harvey Langford was a shining light on a dark day for Melbourne with 26 disposals, six clearances and one goal.
Harry Sharp (two) was their only multiple goal-kicker and Christian Petracca kicked one from 23 disposals, having spent long periods stationed in attack.
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