Captain Max Gawn ‘embarrassed’ by AFL teammates’ ‘horrible act’

Melbourne captain Max Gawn has addressed reporters in the fallout to the ugly fight between two teammates on Sunday night.

Max Gawn addressed the ugly altercation.

Melbourne captain Max Gawn has opened up on the “scuffle” between Steven May and Jake Melksham, revealing he was “embarrassed” by the incident.

May has been suspended for one week and the Demons confirmed on Wednesday Melksham had undergone surgery to clean up an infection in his hand resulting from Sunday’s altercation at Melbourne’s Entrecote restaurant.

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Gawn addressed the media on Wednesday and said “hurtful comments” sparked what he described as a “horrible act”, but denied the bust-up was because of a grand final-related sledge, as has been reported.

He also added Melksham called him the next day to explain what happened.

“I’ve got doubt and Melky and Maysy have worked it out and are working now, but it’s probably not an overnight thing,” Gawn said.

“They had an altercation. It probably will go on for a couple of weeks making sure they mend that friendship.

“I’m not going to lie – I’ve been embarrassed the last two days.

“I’ve come out quite frequently … talking about this sort of stuff. How we speak to each other and almost praising it on how we’ve been doing it as a group.

“And we’ve had a setback here, but I’ve had a setback with that almost every day in the last two years in the way I talk to teammates, the way I talk to my wife, my brothers, my mum and dad

“It’s about how you act from that.”

Max Gawn was “embarrassed” by his teammates’ actions. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Gawn said he was disappointed in other teammates who were also at the dinner, for not pulling up May — who was going against club rules by drinking while under the league’s concussion protocols.

Entrecote slammed Melbourne for offering a “weak apology” over the incident that amounted to a “boys will be boys” excuse. The venue also posted on its Instagram story: “BUT STILL NO APOLOGY TO MY STAFF OR THE RESTAURANT … disgraceful effort @stevenmay @melbournefc.”

Gawn said the restaurant should have received an apology sooner than it did.

“Obviously, there’s a lot of stuff that they’re thinking and a lot of people you have to tick off at football clubs, and I’m not saying the restaurant should have been last,” he said.

“I’m not sure if it damaged the restaurant or damaged their brand. They probably have damaged the brand a tiny bit, so that I should be apologetic for that.

“I am as well. They’re based on my leadership, so I’m obviously apologetic for that as well.”

Gawn added “the wheels haven’t fallen off” at the reigning premiers, despite this incident coinciding with two defeats in the last two games.

Jake Melksham needed surgery after the “scuffle”. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)

Steven May has been suspended for a week. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)