Max Gawn insists he isn’t concerned by coach Simon Goodwin’s press conference revelation about him and is mentally ready to play

Max Gawn was blindsided by his coach raising an off-field issue in a post-match press conference and revealed his reaction on radio on Tuesday.

Melbourne captain Max Gawn would have been happy for coach Simon Goodwin to say he was “smashed” by his North Melbourne opponent last weekend.

But the seven-time All Australian has no issue with his coach amid strong criticism that he suggested there was a “backstory” to Gawn’s poor performance in the loss to the Kangaroos and is “OK”, playing down fears of a lingering problem.

In the aftermath of the 59-point loss, in which Gawn was well beaten by Tristan Xerri on Sunday, Goodwin offered up an excuse for his star skipper.

“You’ve also got to realise that in life there are other things that are going on,” he said in his post-match press conference.

“So we’ll support Max. He’s a great person and a great leader and there’s a backstory to everyone’s performance. I’m not going to go into the details, but … there’s footy and there’s some stuff in life.”

Gawn wasn’t aware the matter would be raised and it drew criticism from club great Garry Lyon.

“I suspect he (Goodwin) is doing it for all the right reasons … But all that did was invite scrutiny and questions,” Lyon told AFL 360 on Monday night.

“What I would say is Max has never, since I’ve been watching Melbourne, looked for an excuse and I don’t think Simon needed to provide one.”

Simon Goodwin threw out a teaser about his skipper. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

But on Tuesday morning, in his regular radio slot, Gawn said a family illness was what Goodwin was referring to and the Demons captain was “fine” with it.

“I am OK. There’s an illness in the family, there has been for a while – about 24 months, to be honest,” Gawn said on Triple M’s Mick in the Morning.

“And I’ve put myself in a really good spot throughout that 24 months, to be honest … played some good footy, got some great people at the club, great people in my family, and I’ve turned up every single day ready to be a captain and player and turned up at home ready to be a husband and dad as well.

“I haven’t hid behind it … I’m also free to talk about it throughout the club.

“I’m in a really good spot. And so is the family member at this point. It did sort of escalate over the last three or four weeks, but back to a steady state now.”

Max Gawn revealed he had been dealing with a family illness. Picture: Michael Klein

Gawn said he could see what his coach was “trying to do” and cleared the air on Monday with Goodwin.

“We spoke a lot yesterday … there’s no issue with me and Goody,” Gawn said.

“I can clearly see what he was trying to do – he was trying to show me love and support and I don’t mind. I spoke to that family member yesterday. They don’t mind. It’s fine.

“I love that my coach loves me and it clearly shows that he cares. He’s 100 per cent right. There is reasons behind performance.

“He is a father figure for me and he was showing love and showing care and I appreciate that.”

Gawn said he would always “stand aside” if he wasn’t mentally ready to play.

“I’ve got myself in a really good spot. And I know I’m a mental health advocate,” he said.

“I’d clearly stand aside from football if I was struggling, but I’ve got some great people at both the club and at home that keep me in a good place.”

Originally published as Max Gawn insists he isn’t concerned by coach Simon Goodwin’s press conference revelation about him and is mentally ready to play