AFL 2021: Melbourne Demons skipper Max Gawn predicts ‘crazy’ scenes in preliminary final with Geelong Cats

The Demons and Cats have a history of close encounters and Melbourne’s skipper says he expects the trend to continue on Friday.

In recognition of his stellar season, Gawn was named captain of the 2021 All-Australian team. Picture: Michael Willson / AFL Photos via Getty Images

Melbourne Demons captain Max Gawn expects this Friday night’s preliminary final against Geelong to be just as “crazy” as the clubs’ other recent encounters.

Four of the sides’ seven encounters since 2017 have been decided by less than a goal and all four are on Gawn’s mind ahead of this weekend’s grand final qualifier.

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Most recently, the skipper himself broke the Cats’ hearts by kicking a matchwinning goal after the siren in round 23. The Demons that day recovered from a 44-point deficit to claim the minor premiership in emphatic fashion.

Gawn “just can’t wait” for this Friday’s rematch at Optus Stadium.

“I’m big on the history of these two clubs,” the All-Australian ruckman said on Monday.

“(Demons player Adam Tomlinson) Tommo missed a goal after the siren (in round 4, 2020), I missed a goal just before the siren (in round 1, 2018), Zac Tuohy kicked a goal after the siren (in round 18, 2018), I’ve kicked a goal after the siren.

“There’s four games there that it’s pretty crazy how close they are. I’m presuming it’s going to be something similar (on Friday).”

Gawn was the man of the hour the last time the Demons met the Cats. Picture: Michael Klein

With their qualifying final win over the Lions, the Demons earned a week off to prepare for their prelim.

Speaking from the side’s Perth hub, Gawn admitted while the Dees were grateful for the break, they were ready to get back into the action.

“It’s been a long eight or nine days being stuck in this resort,” he said.

“We’ve been able to get to an oval every now and then but the resort life … we’re very enclosed here and there’s not much you can do.

“People are walking in the carpark continuously. (Senior coach Simon Goodwin) Goody’s up to about 1,000 laps in nine days. Now the sense of footy is back and the sense of normality is back in our week.”

Goodwin’s side has turned its attention to preparing for the Cats.

“We can look back at round 23 and we can also review our Brisbane game and look how (Geelong) played against Port and also their GWS game (in the first two weeks of the finals),” he said.

“It gives us a lot to do.

“It’s really good that we forgot about football for a week and now we can focus on footy.”