Max Gawn on being used as a step ladder, Nathan Vardy’s response and behind the scenes at Demons

Adam Simpson said Nathan Vardy’s push on a defenceless Max Gawn came after a ‘bit of banter going in one direction most of the night’, but in his column, Gawn has revealed what really happened.

Liam Ryan's spectacular mark for West Coast over Max Gawn at the West Coast V Melbourne game in perth. Picture: Stefan Gosatti

This game was going to plan for us. It was heated, contested and we had it on our own boot.

But it turned out that was part of the problem. Constant inaccuracy cost us against West Coast on Friday night.

I dare say, an extra dose of set shot practice will be on the agenda at training this week. We kept the Eagles in it and it came back to haunt us in the last quarter.

Liam Ryan used me as a stepladder in a Gary Moorcroft-style grab. It was a fair mark! It hurt, too, and I was spitting out blood for a while.

A bit has been made of Nathan Vardy’s reaction after that mark. I don’t have a problem with it, but I would like to set the record straight on one thing — I didn’t say anything to Vardy until that moment. Not a single word.

Anyhow, it’s coming home without the four points that hurts the most.

Liam Ryan's spectacular mark for West Coast over Max Gawn at the West Coast V Melbourne game in perth. Picture: Stefan Gosatti

It’s unusual for sides to travel in consecutive weeks. It’s very unusual for a Victorian side to do it and it’s extremely unusual that one of those games is off a six-day break against the reigning premier.

Additionally, our injuries are well documented and some among the red and blue persuasion might be relatively content with what a young side showed on the other side of the country.

But we are devastated, disappointed and angry with ourselves for not finishing the job. We should have won it.

We’ve had a bit of everything at Perth Stadium. We played there twice last year — one an outstanding win and the other a very disappointing loss.

I prepared the same way for both and that didn’t change for this game, either.

I went over on the Wednesday night flight with Nathan Jones and Tom McDonald. I like to get over there a bit earlier so I can wake up in Perth the day before the game, get the body clock going, stretch the legs and become familiar with how Perth folk talk, which can be quite difficult.

"I hated Nathan Vardy doing that. Gawn has turned him inside out all night. He has destroyed him!"

- Bruce McAvaney pic.twitter.com/Ivz4dgkYEl

— 7AFL (@7AFL) May 17, 2019

I am on the prowl for the best coffee bean in town. I will go a long way for a good, strong three-quarter latte and this time it’s a 10-minute Uber trip to The Little Banksia.

Apart from winning, the captain’s run at the ground is my favourite part of an interstate trip. It’s always good to go through some last-minute structures, as well, while you have a bit of privacy. It’s private after Brendan McCartney has gone and cleaned out the spies.

I’ve roomed by myself ever since Matt Jones left the club. No one else could make me feel at home like Matt.

“Goody” is really stepping up his team meetings and this one was up there with his best, topped off with one of the biggest eruptions to a debutant I’ve seen in Oskar “Sauce” Baker.

This meeting is an incredibly important part on an interstate trip and reminds you — among the planes, check-ins and table tennis games — that you are here for business and what West Coast did to us last year.

Post-meeting, some smart alec will remind the team that it’s a “buffet” and not a “stuffet”. To be fair, it’s in my top seven jokes.

Liam Ryan launches over Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn. Picture: AFL Photos

A massage, walk and Coles are all on my agenda before bed, but that doesn’t go for everyone. These days, every second person brings their PlayStation and the hotel is rocking to screams of goals scored in FIFA. I can hear Clayton Oliver from four levels above yelling “Vamos!”.

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I like the culture we’ve developed around our away trips.

Perth Stadium has it all, too. Well played, Perth. The change rooms are unbelievable, the light show is crazy, the fans are loud and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t sing along to Eagle Rock from time to time.

But unfortunately, and more importantly, we didn’t get to sing the song that counts this time — our song.

Liam Ryan with one of the marks of the year and Nathan Vardy celebrates with a superhuman lack of class. #AFLEaglesDees

— Ed Jones (@egg2883) May 17, 2019

Nathan Vardy: “Sportsmanship”.#AFLEaglesDees pic.twitter.com/A0t4C8bmuq

— Daniel Begala (@danbegala) May 17, 2019

Max Gawn:
56 hit-outs
A shitload to advantage
15 touches
144 #SuperCoach points

Nathan Vardy:
7 hit-outs
5 touches
1 patronising hair ruffle
30 SC points

Understand being caught up in the moment but hope the Eagle would happily give away one of those stats#AFLEaglesDees

— Ben Broad (@Ben_Broad) May 17, 2019