Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn reveals he feared the worst after suffering knee injury at pre-season camp

Max Gawn joked he feared he might have had a year off watching music festivals like Coachella as he awaited knee scans but has now pencilled in a March 6 clash against Hawthorn as he recovers from a grade two medical tear.

Max Gawn feared he had injured his ACL for a third time when he was hurt in Melbourne’s pre-season camp.

Max Gawn has spoken of his fears he might have suffered an ACL tear for the third time, joking he was booking his tickets to Coachella as he nervously awaiting MRI scans.

The All Australian ruckman suffered a grade two medial tear at the Demons’ pre-season camp in Queensland last week but is still on track to play in Round 1.

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Those injuries can take two months to recover from but Gawn has been assured by new fitness guru Darren Burgess he should still play in Round 1.

Gawn has twice torn his right ACL and had several other right knee surgeries and admits to a nervous half-hour until scans ruled out the worst-case scenario.

This time he came down awkwardly in a marking contest and hurt the previously unscathed left knee.

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Instead of a year off tripping the light fantastic at American music festivals he will plans to be in the centre square in Round 1.

“I have done two ACLs so everything that goes wrong with my knee, I get a little bit scared,” he said.

“The half an hour of the MRI wasn't the most comfortable MRI for me, I was already booking my tickets to Coachella, but I am here now and ready for Round 1.

“I have done a lot of knee injuries but never really done this one. I am in the hands of doctors and Burgo and see them (on Monday). I have had an extended break. It didn’t turn out like I wanted to, I was hotel bound for the majority of the time.

“(Burgess) has shown me a couple of Port Adelaide examples and guys who have played soccer who were back in three or four weeks so that’s what I hope I can do and sort it out (on Monday).”

Max Gawn thought he’d seriously injured his knee during a pre-season training session.

The bulky knee brace will be discarded on Monday, with Gawn setting his sights on a March 6 March Community Series clash against Hawthorn.

“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,” Gawn said.

“I am very excited to potentially play Round 1 and potentially play JLT 2 (the second pre-season clash) as well so things crossed my mind but the fact its only three or four weeks is good.

“If it was my right leg 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.

“As I was going off I was still relatively confident, I didn't have to add to all the operations I have had on my right.”