Melbourne eyeing May 4 as the date its players will return to training

Melbourne players have been told to be ready to return to work within weeks. But is the target date realistic? Plus, find out what Max Gawn has been doing to lift spirits among the players and staff.

Max Gawn at Melbourne training. Picture: Getty Images

Melbourne has circled May 4 as its return to training and would happily relocate to a centralised hub to kickstart the season – even if the AFL has not discussed that radical plan with clubs yet.

Coach Simon Goodwin said the league had told clubs that May 4, just three weeks from Monday, was a realistic return date for AFL training.

“That’s always been a date that’s been spoken about by the AFL. They’ll let us know as we get closer whether that’s realistic or not,” Goodwin said.

“That’s the date they’ve spoken about to the clubs and to the playing groups.

“We’ll keep working towards that date. If it shifts it shifts, but we’re working towards the date.”

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Austin Bradtke and Max Gawn at Melbourne training before the shutdown. Picture: Getty Images

The stalled season will allow Nathan Jones (Achilles), Christian Salem (glandular fever), Harrison Petty (groin) and Mitch Hannan (groin) to return to full fitness before Round 2.

It will also shrink the number of games Harley Bennell (calf) and Aaron vandenBerg (foot) must sit out due to their long-term injuries.

Max Gawn has sent Easter packs to every teammate and coach as well as setting up private Instagram and WhatsApp groups so teammates can stay connected.

Gawn’s mother, Sandra, has baked some goodies and the new captain has also put in a book and some other surprises.

“He’s sent out his own little pack to every player and coach to get us through this that he put together himself,” Goodwin said.

“It’s a Max Gawn special pack for Easter.”

The Demons were told to stay in a “high-training phase” immediately after Round 1 but have since been told to taper off.

“They’re in a bit of a down-patch right now, but we’ve still got our eye on May 4 as an opportunity to comeback,” Goodwin said.

“There’s a lot of trust they’ll come back in some really good shape.”

Goodwin said every staff member that had been stood down would be “back with us” when training resumed, although beyond that AFL guidelines on football spending would determine job losses.

Fitness guru Darren Burgess is part of the club’s skeleton staff working through the shutdown period and has helped players set up home gyms and stay engaged.

Melbourne’s shocking efficiency going inside 50m contributed to last year’s ladder slide and Goodwin said fixing that connection remained a priority.

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Goodwin learned of the hub idea – where the AFL would send a group of six teams to three different quarantined locations – through the media.

“We haven’t had it mentioned to our players because we haven’t had it mentioned to us,” Goodwin said.

“(But) we’d be open to anything. It’s because we love the game and we want to get back playing at some point.

“Once it gets to that point where there is an opportunity to play, whatever the season may look like, whatever the games look like, wherever the situation and scenarios take us around Australia – we’re in.”

Originally published as Melbourne eyeing May 4 as the date its players will return to training