Melbourne captain Max Gawn closing in on $800,000 mark
Lachie Neale went close. Now it's Melbourne captain Max Gawn's turn to push for the coveted $800,000 mark in KFC SuperCoach. Only one player - Jonathan Brown - has got there before. Can Gawn make history as the first ruckman?
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Max Gawn is closing in on becoming the second $800,000 player in KFC SuperCoach history.
Gawn set a new mark as the most-expensive ruckman in KFC SuperCoach when his price ballooned to $776,700 after a score of 185 against Hawthorn in Round 7.
The Melbourne captain has been on an incredible run since footy's resumption, averaging 165 points from Round 2-7.
With a break even of 124 for Round 8, when he will take on the combination of Stefan Martin and Oscar McInerney, Gawn needs to score about 160 points to become the second player - behind Jonathan Brown - to reach $800,000.
Lachie Neale appeared the most likely player to join Brown in the elite price bracket after a record-breaking start to the season, but Gawn has gone past the Brisbane star's peak price after jumping by $23,700 this round.
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Neale’s incredible average of 164.7 from rounds 1-3 was 0.2 ranking points better than the 164.5 recorded by West Coast champion Daniel Kerr to Round 3 of the 2007 season.
But even that was not enough for him to eclipse $800,000, peaking at $763,800.
His price has dropped to $706,300 after Round 8, when he was restricted to 87 points KFC SuperCoach points by Matt De Boer.
Brisbane ball magnet Neale became the seventh player to eclipse $750,000 this season, joining Jonathan Brown, Chris Judd, Patrick Dangerfield, Gary Ablett, Todd Goldstein and Barry Hall.
Brown is the only player in KFC SuperCoach history to reach $800,000.
His price peaked at $819,600 in Round 10, 2006, a year in which he averaged a remarkable 140.5 points a game.
“(Neale) doesn’t worry me if he gets to $1 million because I got him, not cheap, but a lot cheaper than $750,000,” Brown said.
“I’ll be very happy if he surpasses my $800,000, that’s for sure.”
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Brown lauded Neale's red-hot form, which has made him one of the favourites for this year's Brownlow Medal.
The 27-year-old peaked at $763,800 in Round 5 but has since been overtaken by Gawn.
“For (Neale) to be averaging 30 disposals and a goal a game or more, that puts him in the absolute elite company, if not the best,” Brown said.
“I think he’s staying out on the field for the majority of quarters so he’s probably playing the same amount of game time anyway.
“He’s very impressive. I think the biggest thing for a midfielder is when they go from contest to contest.
“That’s where the great midfielders can stand out and they can have that attacking string to their bow.”
Lachie Neale starting price: $658,500
Round 5 price: $763,800 (+$105,300)
Max Gawn starting price: $697,100
Round 8 price: $776,700
SUPERCOACH RICH LIST
Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions) $819,600 — Round 10, 2006
Chris Judd (West Coast) $789,900 — Round 7, 2006
Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong) $783,700 — Round 17, 2017
Max Gawn (Melbourne) - $776,700 - Round 7, 2020
Gary Ablett (Geelong) $772,500 Round 8, 2010
Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne) $771,100 Round 18, 2015
Gary Ablett (Geelong) $767,500 — Round 13, 2008
Gary Ablett (Geelong) $764,300 — Round 5, 2009
Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions) — $763,800 Round 5, 2020
Barry Hall (Sydney) $762,300 — Round 10, 2006
Gary Ablett (Gold Coast) $754,400 — Round 9, 2014
Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong) $749,800 — 2018 starting price
BEST STARTS TO AN AFL SEASON
Rounds 1-3 from 2007-2020
Lachie Neale — 165 ranking points (2020)
Daniel Kerr — 164.5 ranking points (2007)
Tom Mitchell — 154.7 ranking points (2018)
Gary Ablett — 154.3 ranking points (2012)
Shane Mumford — 151.6 ranking points (2014)
Source: Champion Data
Originally published as Melbourne captain Max Gawn closing in on $800,000 mark