Max Gawn set to play more forward as Melbourne plans to unleash twin rucks
Melbourne plans to swing superstar ruckman Max Gawn into attack for larger periods of games this season after picking up ex-North Melbourne big man Braydon Preuss.
Melbourne
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Melbourne wants to swing superstar ruckman Max Gawn into attack for larger periods of games this season after picking up ex-North Melbourne big man Braydon Preuss.
The Demons will unleash the new ruck pairing for the first time tomorrow when Simon Goodwin’s men lock horns with Collingwood in a practice match at the Holden Centre.
Gawn, 27, is the most dominant ruckman in the league, but will spend more time deep forward this season when Preuss, 23, is picked to swap into the ruck.
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And speedster Jayden Hunt will get the chance to continue his impressive preseason which has catapulted the defender back into the Round 1 selection mix after a disappointing 2018.
Melbourne nabbed the 206cm Preuss in exchange for midfielder Dom Tyson with the aim of playing Preuss and Gawn in the same team as early as Round 1 against Port Adelaide.
But Preuss will have to impress in tomorrow’s clash against the Pies (who will be without Brodie Grundy because of a toe problem) and the JLT games to secure a spot.
Melbourne football boss Josh Mahoney said the Demons liked the prospect of playing the 208cm Gawn as a dangerous marking option, after trading spearhead Jesse Hogan.
“We’ve seen when Max has played forward before he can be a really hard match-up and he does kick goals,” Mahoney said.
“So, bringing Braydon to the club gives us the opportunity to look at that more.
“We’ve really liked Braydon’s preseason, because he turned up really fit and his competitive work in the ruck at training with Max has been very strong.
“His forward line work has been improving each session, so we have been really impressed with what he has brought.”
The new 6-6-6 starting position rule — which makes clubs start only six players in the two 50m arcs — could also heighten Gawn’s height advantage in the marking contest.
Gawn, who has booted 51 majors from 99 matches, told the Herald Sun he was in favour of the twin tower plan.
“The Grand Final teams were both double ruck and I am a pretty impatient man and I want some success,” Gawn said.
“So if that’s going to help win us a flag, then I’m for it.
“Port also play double (ruck), with (Scott) Lycett and Paddy Ryder both most likely going to play in the ruck, so it could be the best way to combat that.”
Gawn said Preuss had been a handful to combat in the ruck at training.
“‘Pokey’ (Preuss) he’s not a bad athlete, at 120 kegs, he’s got about 15 on me,” Gawn said.
“He keeps up in the running and he is strong, and he should be pushing me around because he has got that strength.”
Hunt had an excellent 2017 season playing 22 matches, but went backwards amid some injury issues last year, playing only six games.
“Jayden was really disappointed with his season last year and he has approached preseason with the mindset that he wanted to maximise every session,” Mahoney said.
“He presented really fit and he is training really well.
“We know what Jayden can do at AFL level after what he produced a couple of years ago, and we are looking forward to him getting back to that form.”
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