Max Gawn Biography

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin concedes the Demons' bold experiment to recruit Brodie Grundy and partner him with fellow star ruckman Max Gawn has fallen well short of expectations.

"In terms of the way they function in the team together from a forward-half perspective, I think it's pretty clear that we acknowledge that it hasn't quite been the success that we're hoping for – and that certainly hasn't been all on Brodie," Goodwin said.

"We were hoping for Max to play big time forward as well, and between the two of them we haven't quite had the impact that we would have liked throughout the year. That's impacted Brodie's ability to play in the team in the last five or six weeks. I think from that perspective we acknowledge that part of it hasn't worked."

Having suffered two ACLs, Max Gawn admits he worried his career was over after suffering a medial ligament in his knee against Brisbane.

"I'm 31, I'm sort-of getting towards the twilight and to do a third knee would have been pretty devastating for my own career," he said.

"I was quite upset for a bit ... the vulnerability to cry, I had a little tear in the changeroom. It was a big moment that got put on me in round two, at a time when you're not expecting that news."

Max Gawn could miss up to five weeks with an ankle syndesmosis injury sustained against Collingwood.

Max Gawn and Jack Viney will continue in their roles as captain and vice-captain of Melbourne in 2022.

It is the same two-man leadership structure as 2021, which took the Demons to a drought-breaking flag.

Clayton Oliver claims his third Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy after being named Melbourne's best and fairest player for the Demons' 2021 premiership season.

The 24-year-old finished with 670 votes to edge out fellow midfield ace Christian Petracca (644) in second, with captain Max Gawn (542) finishing third.

Oliver became just the seventh Demon to win the award on three or more occasions.

Fresh from becoming a premiership player with Melbourne, Luke Jackson speaks glowingly of the influence his captain Max Gawn has had on his fledgling career.

"To be able to play more ruck this year and be able to help Maxy out has definitely helped my game. Hopefully, we'll keep doing it as the seasons go on. I've just loved my time this year," Jackson said.

"He's unreal, he's pretty much like a dad to me off the field. I couldn't ask for much more from Maxy, and obviously, a great player to learn off as well."

Max Gawn turns his back on free-agency after signing a four-year contract extension with the Demons to remain at the club until the end of 2025.

"I've got a fair bit of faith in where the club's going. We've got some really good, elite players now in the competition, and that, mirrored with some really good young talent ... it's a really good mix," Gawn said.

"It makes me really excited to be a part of this club for the next few years to hopefully achieve something great.

Max Gawn will continue as Melbourne captain in 2021 with Jack Viney serving as his deputy.

Max Gawn will lead Melbourne in 2020 after being voted in as the Demons' sole captain, with the club choosing to go down the path of abolishing the notion of an official leadership group.

"We wanted a real collective approach to our leadership, we wanted to refine it. When you sit down as a club, you look at what's best for your club right at this moment," Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin explained.

Instead of heading up a leadership team, Gawn will be supported by just vice-captain Jack Viney who served as co-captain of the club with Nathan Jones in 2019.

Goodwin admitted Viney, 25, was naturally "disappointed" with the fact he won't captain for a fourth season, but he remained as dedicated to the club as ever.

"He's a very passionate man, Jack, and he takes his leadership very seriously. It's a great honour to be a captain of a footy club, but you don't know Jack Viney if you don't understand where he comes from," Goodwin said.

"His one thing since the moment he's walked through these doors is to make this club great and be a part of something special."

In an episode of the Demons' 'To Hell and Back' documentary series, Demons coach Simon Goodwin uses Gawn as an example to the newcomers of the professionalism required to succeed in the AFL.

"'Gawny', you flapped around in the VFL for, how long?," Goodwin asked.

"Too long, six years," Gawn replied.

"Then the penny dropped," Goodwin said.

"Worked his arse off, got his diet sorted, never trains harder."

Max Gawn is optimistic about recovering from a knee injury in time to make it into the Demons' 2020 round one side.

"I have done a lot of knee injuries but never really done this one. It didn't turn out like I wanted to, I was hotel bound for the majority of the time," Gawn said.

"I was mostly disappointed about my record. I have got five years of every pre-season session and I had one session to go to finish this pre-season.

"If it was my right leg (after two ACLs), I wouldn't have been as talkative and wouldn't be here right now. So, it's my left knee which I am much happier now."

Max Gawn will miss up to five weeks of pre-season training after suffering a knee injury.

Gawn was assisted from the track at the club's Maroochydore training camp clutching his left knee before sitting out the remainder of the training session.

"Max got a knock to the knee during a match simulation drill earlier today, and scans have since revealed a Grade 2 medial ligament strain," Demons head of football Josh Mahoney said.

"Whilst exact timelines are yet to determined, at this stage, we anticipate he will be available for the start of the season."

Clayton Oliver ties with Max Gawn in the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy count as join club champions for Melbourne in 2019.

It had been expected that Gawn, who won All Australian honours for the third time in his career after a fantastic campaign, would be the runaway winner.

However, Oliver played every game, averaged 30 disposals, 16.3 contested possessions and seven clearances to finish alongside Gawn.

Liam Ryan wins the 2019 Mark of the Year award.

Ryan had two of the final three nominations but it was his spectacular effort against Melbourne in round nine that won him the award.

After a gut-busting run into the forward line, the Eagles forward used Demons ruckman Max Gawn as a stepladder to pull in his jaw-dropping grab.

"Cheers, Maxy," he said with a big smile after accepting his award.

Max Gawn rises to No.1 in the Official AFL Player Ratings, unseating explosive Geelong ball-winner Patrick Dangerfield.

Gawn was dominant in 2018 but hasn't had quite the same influence this season, but the ratings take into account an individual's contributions over their past 40 games in a rolling two-year period.

In that time, Gawn has the highest percentage of hitouts won, more hitouts to advantage than anyone else, is No.3 for score launches per game and No.5 for contested marks per game.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is at odds with Melbourne counterpart Simon Goodwin about the Power's physical treatment of Demons star ruckman Max Gawn.

The Demons sought clarification from the AFL after Power players bumped and harassed the All Australian big man on their way to a surprise 26-point victory at the MCG.

"here was one free kick paid and Tom Jonas got a fine for it. Outside of that, I don't think there was anything to it. I think it's been blown up a bit," Hinkley said.

"We understood Max was a significant player for them. We won't deny the fact we talked about it, but I don't think it was over the top."

Melbourne seeks clarification from the AFL's umpiring department about the rough treatment All Australian ruckman Max Gawn received from Port Adelaide players in Saturday's 26-point loss at the MCG.

The Power players went out of their way to rough Gawn up at every opportunity, with Port captain Tom Jonas copping a $2000 fine from the Match Review Officer for his off-the-ball bump on the Demons ruckman.

"He's had to deal with this for a while and Max will get through it. Max knows what's he's capable of and he didn't play a great game," Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said.

"But in saying that, we know that some of the things weren't in the rules of the game and that's been relayed to us so we'll work both ways there."

Neville Jetta has been elevated to the club's leadership group, with the Demons deciding to retain their co-captaincy model for 2019.

Jetta, 29, replaces veteran defender Jordan Lewis in the group, while Max Gawn will serve as a key leadership group member again.

Midfielders Nathan Jones and Jack Viney will continue as a co-skippers, a role they have held since 2017, in the four-man leadership team.

"I have been fortunate to see Neville's growth as a player and role model first hand over the last 10 years," Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said.

"He represents all of the characteristics that we want in a Melbourne person and we are glad that he has been recognised in this way."

Max Gawn wins the best-and-fairest award of his career, capping off a stellar 2018 season for the Demons.

Gawn, 26, polled 657 votes to take out Melbourne's best and fairest at Crown Palladium, beating last year's winner Clayton Oliver (595) and the much-improved James Harmes (468).

"I gave myself a goal at the start of the year, and it was a bit of different goal for me, and it was to have no excuse," Gawn said.

"In 2017 I had a terrible season by my own standards. Yes, I tore my hamstring off the bone, but was that because I wasn't as fit as I was in 2016? Was that because I didn't put the work in? Did I slack off in weights? Was my diet not right?

"What happened at the end of the 2017 season hit me pretty hard and I didn't want to have a season like that again."

The Essendon member, who caused a social media storm after abusing Max Gawn from over the fence at Etihad Stadium, issues a formal apology for his behaviour.

"Watching that back on TV, I was sickened by my outburst, especially as there were women and children nearby," the statement said.

"This has made me look at myself and realise never to behave like that again. I would like to apologise to Max Gawn for my behaviour and also to my family who have been embarrassed and ashamed of my behaviour."

Max Gawn has the last laugh after being berated by an Essendon supporter during Melbourne's win over the Bombers at Etihad Stadium.

After kicking his second banana goal, Gawn turned back around to the fan to let him know who had just kicked the goal.

"They weren't for the one o'clock Sunday Funday game, I don't think," Gawn said of the words of advice given to him by the fan.

"They were not for my ears, let alone a young person's ears. Nothing vilification wise, but I just let him know that I had a better beard and put the banana in."

Max Gawn concedes his wayward goalkicking this season is having a dispiriting effect on Melbourne.

Gawn missed a shot at goal to win the round one clash against Geelong, and then a chance from almost the same spot of the MCG to put his side four goals clear of Hawthorn early in their 67-point loss in round four.

"The other one (I missed against Geelong) was to win the game, so they're pretty crucial goals and they're probably deflating the team a little bit," Gawn said.

"I'm hitting them at training, I'm just not hitting them in the game at the moment. Hopefully one goes through soon, but I'll keep putting myself in that position."

Max Gawn has shrugged off the post-siren Cam Guthrie sledge that followed his failure to convert the match-winning goal against the Cats.

Gawn's towering pack grab in the final minute looked set to deliver the Demons a thrilling victory over Geelong, but he misfired to the left from inside 30m.

"The siren went during the sledge, so it sort of looked bad, but I would've done the same thing to someone who missed the goal as well," Gawn said.

After losing eight kilograms in the off-season, Max Gawn says he is keen to test his new physique out against some of the AFL's bigger bodies in the JLT Series.

"We've got two 19-year-olds at the club, who are developing very well, but they probably don't give me that test that an (Aaron) Sandilands would," Gawn said.

"I had (Todd) Goldstein in JLT round one and Goldstein is obviously a premier ruckman over the 100kg mark.

"To have that test with the new weight was something I needed and this week I've got Billy Longer, who I've had some problems with in the past."

Max Gawn and Jordan Lewis have been elevated to the vice-captaincy in a streamlined Melbourne leadership group for 2018.

Nathan Jones and Jack Viney will lead the club as co-captains for a second-straight season.

Demons football manager Josh Mahoney says Max Gawn deserves a lot of credit for his elevation to the club's vice-captaincy.

"Max's emergence in this area has been substantial," Mahoney said.

"His influence and care for the entire club has really made a positive impact and becoming a vice-captain is great recognition for his hard work in this area."

Courtesy of dedicated holiday training regime and disciplined diet, Demon Max Gawn has returned to the club a trimmed-down version of the ruckman who managed just 13 games this season.

Commentator Tim Watson ran into Gawn in New York last week, and said the 2016 All Australian was a picture of fitness.

"I have never seen a big fella, a ruckman, who looked as fit as what he looked," Watson said of Gawn.

"He had a singlet on and had just come back from a training session and he has been training the house down."

Max Gawn signs a three-year contract extension to remain at the Demons until the end of 2021.

"I love this club, and for the first time in a long time, we are heading in the right direction and I want to be a part of that and bring our supporters the success they are craving," Gawn said.

"I will be a Melbourne player for life, which means a lot to me, so there was no point dancing around and trying to string out my contract negotiations."

Max Gawn trials wearing a sling-like device at training in a bid to prevent him from using his off-arm to keep opponents at bay in ruck contests, which, under AFL guidelines, is considered an illegal tactic.

Gawn was mystified after being penalised four times for using straight-arm blocks against St Kilda's Billy Longer in round 21, with Melbourne seeking an explanation from the AFL's umpiring department about why the free kicks were paid.

"I sort of had a rough idea (that it was in the rule book), but they'd just never been paid, so it was a bit of a surprise to me when I was out there," Gawn told SEN radio.

"I have been doing it for a long time. It's a straight-arm rule that is there, so the umpires are just paying what is in the law book, so it is something that I have been training on in the last two weeks keeping my arm a little bit more bent."

Melbourne has received an explanation from the AFL's umpiring department about the five free kicks paid against Max Gawn for ruck infringements against St Kilda.

Gawn was left mystified after conceding the free kicks to Saints opponent Billy Longer and even cheekily tweeted a picture of the AFL's Laws of the Game booklet, with the caption "some light reading this week".

"If there is a straight arm by one of the players, when the other player is contesting the footy, that's when it becomes a free kick," AFL umpires coach Hayden Kennedy said.

"There hasn't been any particular focus on it. It just so happened that in this particular game there was a little bit more evidence for the umpire."

Max Gawn says he was perplexed at the number of free kicks he was giving away to Billy Longer in the Bulldogs' clash against the Saints.

"I gave away free kicks that I've never given away in my life. I don't know why they were free kicks but they kept on blowing the whistle, so I was getting a bit frustrated," Gawn told ABC radio after the game.

"I ended up having to let Billy Longer just win them in the end, because I didn't know what to do."

Max Gawn says he is on track for an early return from a hamstring injury.

"I've had a pretty good week on the track (and I am) probably about four weeks away at the moment," Gawn said on Triple M.

"I'm actually looking good for the Collingwood game (in round 12) or the Bulldogs game (in round 13)."

Max Gawn is selling his beard for charity.

Gawn had his famous facial hair shaved off and it is being sold on eBay to raise money for the Reach Foundation.

It comes in a zip-lock bag signed by the All Australian, along with a presentation box.

Max Gawn is set to miss three months after undergoing hamstring surgery.

Max Gawn suffers a serious hamstring injury in the second quarter of Melbourne's round 3 match against Geelong.

"The scans today showed that Max's hamstring strain had some tendon involvement and as a result he will see a surgeon tomorrow to determine whether he requires surgery," Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said.

"At this stage, it's too early to determine the exact length of time that Max will miss, however with the tendon involvement, we expect his recovery to be longer than your traditional hamstring injury."

Melbourne has elevates Jack Viney to co-captain alongside Nathan Jones for the 2017 season.

Former Hawk Jordan Lewis has been voted straight into the Demons' six-man leadership group.

Veteran Colin Garland has made way, while Tom McDonald, Max Gawn and Bernie Vince make up the rest of the group.

A glowing endorsement from All Australian ruckman Max Gawn played a part in Melbourne selecting young big man Lachlan Filipovic in the 2016 AFL Rookie Draft.

Gawn worked closely with Filipovic, pick No.8 overall, in his role as a part-time ruck coach at the Sandringham Dragons during the 2016 season.

Although recruiting manager Jason Taylor was all but set on which player he wanted to recruit with the club's first pick, Gawn's character assessment helped confirm Filipovic's selection.

"There were a couple of times that I'd come in to the club on a Monday morning and ask ‘Jase’ whether he had seen him (Filipovic) play on the weekend," Gawn said.

"I was always in his ear about this Lachie Filipovic fella."

Jack Viney has claimed his first Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy, taking out the prestigious award ahead of senior teammates Nathan Jones and Max Gawn at Crown Palladium.

Viney's win comes 18 years after his father Todd Viney, a former Demons skipper, won the second of his Melbourne best and fairest awards in 1998. Viney senior also won the award in 1993.

"This award might mean a little bit more to me than it does to others, due to family history," Viney said in his acceptance speech.

"The old man constantly reminds me that he's won a couple of these (trophies) and I'm sure he'll be the first to remind me when I sit down at my table that he's still got one more on me."

Max Gawn began this season ranked as the 295th player in the Schick AFL Player Ratings.

After the weekend's game against Gold Coast, the Melbourne big man sits at No.19 in the competition – a rise of 276 places.

Gawn amassed 60 hit-outs against Gold Coast, three shy of his personal-best, to continue his outstanding season and further bolster his All Australian claims.

Although Gawn's ruck dominance was absolute against the Suns, the big man's influence has extended into his work around the ground this season.

Ever since he challenged himself to be one of the best ruckman in the AFL in a pre-season media conference, Gawn's improvement has been stark.

The ruckman is averaging 14.8 Player Ratings points per game this season, ranked 16th in the competition.

The big man is also leading the AFL in hit-outs per game (42.6) and is averaging career-highs in disposals (14.2), clearances (3.1) and contested possessions (8.1).

"My first three or four years were very unsuccessful in a way, I got injured a lot and I watched a lot of football," Gawn told SEN radio.

"I knew I had to get out of what I was doing to be able to play AFL so I trained harder, got my diet better and put on a bit of 'good' weight.

"Through two or three years of good consistent pre-seasons I was able to get where I am today but there's still a long way to go for me.

"I need to get a little bit fitter and stronger as well."

Melbourne has overhauled its leadership group with captain Nathan Jones the only survivor from last year.

Vice-captain Lynden Dunn, former co-captain Jack Grimes, key forward Chris Dawes and Heritier Lumumba have all been axed from the 2015 group, while Daniel Cross has already retired.

The new group features reigning best and fairest winner Bernie Vince, veteran Colin Garland, defender Tom McDonald and emerging stars Jack Viney and Max Gawn.

Max Gawn says he is ready to build on his breakout season to become one of the AFL’s best ruckmen.

The 208cm, 111kg man mountain was one of Melbourne's genuine success stories in 2015, despite after taking until round 10 to break into the senior team.

The 23-year-old eventually played 13 senior matches in 2015, averaging 37 hit-outs, 14 disposals and almost five marks per game.

"I’d like to get inside that top four. I know I’ve got a lot to improve on but at least I’ve made a couple of good stepping-stones this season," Gawn said.

Gawn has endured two knee reconstructions and again injured his knee in the final game of the 2014 season. Despite missing half of Melbourne’s summer program leading into 2015, he said he was starting to trust his body.

"I was able to get my knee to exactly where I wanted it to be. I’d had a lot of problems and had had eight operations in six seasons, so it’s been through a lot," he said.

"To get through the whole year with no swelling, not even a hiccup with my knee, it’s a credit to the rehab I did do.”

Melbourne locks away Max Gawn until the end of 2018, with the form ruckman agreeing to a three-year contract extension.

Gawn said future coach Simon Goodwin and ruck coach Greg Stafford had played key roles in his impressive recent run after being left out of the team in the first nine rounds due to poor pre-season form.

"I wasn't picked in the round one side and I took that pretty poorly … but once I cracked in I've started to enjoy my footy," he said.

"With my last few contracts I've been doing them around the same time as this is now, so the timing has worked out."

Max Gawn has avoided a third knee reconstruction.

The 22-year-old had surgery on Tuesday after suffering a knee injury in Melbourne's final-round clash against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Gawn, who has had two knee reconstructions on his right knee, revealed on social media that he hadn't torn his anterior cruciate ligament.

"Somehow i have dodged an acl! Only a scare! Surgery went well, 10 weeks and im back training #betterthen12months #finallysomeluckonmyside," he said.

Max Gawn and Melbourne are hopeful that the ruckman has avoided another ACL injury, instead damaging a meniscus.

"Max has injured the same knee which was medically repaired when he ruptured his ACL in 2011," Demons manager of football Josh Mahoney said.

"He is likely to require surgery to repair his damaged meniscus.

"A further review of his ACL graft will need to be undertaken during surgery to confirm this diagnosis."

Max Gawn sets a VFL record with 80 hit-outs for the Casey Scorpions in a two-point win over Bendigo.

Max Gawn signs a new two-year deal with Melbourne.

"I didn't want to go anywhere and when [acting general manager of football operations] Josh Mahoney called me last night, he said 'We managed to get a deal' it put a bit of a smile on my face, so I'm rapt," Gawn said.

Max Gawn has again relegated to Dees' long-term injury list after sustaining a hamstring injury during Melbourne's pre-season training.

Exciting Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn will aim to build his strength in 2012 after a second knee reconstruction.

"It's slow progress from here but then in six to eight weeks I think I'll be OK to run, and then I have the long progress at the end where you have to build up your muscles and the strength in the knee as well," he said.

Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn has undergone his second knee reconstruction in just over two years and is ruled out for the 2012 season.

"This is obviously a disappointing result for Max and the club," Demons football manager Josh Mahoney said.

"We see Max as a long-term player for the Melbourne Football Club. He will be fit and healthy to complete a full preseason in preparation for the 2013 season."

Max Gawn will undergo surgery on his right knee but appears to have avoided a second knee reconstruction.

"The full extent of the injury, including how much football Max will miss, will be determined after he has been operated on and further investigation has been completed by the surgeon in the operating theatre," a statement released by the club said.

Max Gawn makes his AFL debut for Melbourne at the MCG with 8 disposals (5 kicks and 3 handballs), 4 marks, 2 tackles and 10 hitouts in a 33-point win over Essendon.

Melbourne draftee Max Gawn, at 208cm, will be the second tallest player in the league behind Fremantle's Aaron Sandilands.

"Back in year nine and year 10, I wasn't always the tallest bloke in the side," he said.

"Running, moving around and agility are among my strengths. I've maintained that as I've kept growing."