Max Gawn says ruckmen trying to reach standard set by North Melbourne’s Todd Goldstein
MELBOURNE ruckman Max Gawn said living up to All-Australian tap king Todd Goldstein has given ruckmen a whole new standard to live up to.
Melbourne
Don't miss out on the headlines from Melbourne. Followed categories will be added to My News.
MELBOURNE ruckman Max Gawn said living up to All-Australian tap king Todd Goldstein has given ruckmen a whole new standard to live up to.
The 24-year-old, who said he was ready to show that he could mix it with the best this season, knows he will have to cover a lot more ground in 2016 and is looking to Goldstein for inspiration.
“I am fitter,” Gawn said.
“The ruck role will increase to a 90 per cent ruck role, similar to Goldstein. He’s set the standard in how much time ruckman need to be on the park for and hopefully I can cover the ground more than what I did last year.
“It’s just (about getting) that confidence at the level to know that you can mix it with the best … hopefully I can take that ahead to this year.”
Gawn has impressed coaches this pre-season, starring in last week’s intra-club match and having been on the receiving end of plenty of praise from coach Paul Roos over the summer.
He said he is a lot more comfortable with being considered a leader of the young team, and said the team is determined to be a lot more competitive this season.
“We’re not there just to hang our head on being competitive. We want to win,” Gawn said.
“We’ve got a good, young talented list.”
Big Five no more: The tough calls Dees need to make
If there is one thing that Melbourne people know, it’s that they can’t hang on to the ‘Big Five’ for another year. So where is their next premiership coming from? And what will 2026 look like?
‘Shattered’ May confused by ban
Steven May thought he contested the ball in the right way before colliding with a Carlton opponent and is shattered by a three-match ban Melbourne is appealing.