Max Gawn opens up on unfulfilled footy goals, life after the Demons captaincy and off field balance

When he sat in the Gabba rooms in round 2 with a suspected ACL, Max Gawn thought his chance for another premiership was over. He opens up on what is driving his flag quest.

Max Gawn thought he had worked the angles.

As he slumped against the Gabba change room wall with hands in his lap and a bulging bag of ice on his wrecked knee, Gawn had his own private moment of grief.

The Melbourne captain’s knee had crumpled on him in a fairly innocuous collision with teammate Jack Viney and the diagnosis was a total disaster.

ACL likely torn, season almost certainly over.

Gawn couldn’t escape the worst-case scenario about a season only two rounds old and the knock-on effect on his entire career.

“To be honest I was pretty down in the dumps when I first got down there. I got a similar diagnosis to (Jake) Melksham: “We are pretty sure you have done your ACL,” Gawn told this masthead from the club’s Casey Fields training base.

“So when you get that news, it was five minutes away from quarter time and I was always going to stay down there until quarter time. I found a little sweet spot at the Gabba. You never really know about change rooms because the cameras pop up left, right and centre. But I couldn’t hide and then I think that footage managed to get onto the (Gabba) big screen as well.

Max Gawn looks on after injuring his knee in round 2. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“Probably not the greatest look for my teammates, but I was similar to what ‘Melk’ is going through now. My career flashed through my eyes. I am 32, with another ruck on the list. It does look something like: “We won’t need you”.

At home his wife Jess was watching the Fox Footy news update as the range of possibilities — medial ligament or anterior cruciate – became apparent.

“Yeah, I’ve actually got a funny story regarding you. You did the half time update and this story has some Jess tax, some Jess mayo, but she said you started half time by saying, “He was a wonderful man, Max”. Like I was dead. It’s a eulogy,” laughs Gawn.

It would take another 24 hours and yet more drama before Gawn’s mind was put to rest with a diagnosis that has him exactly where he wants to be again.

A restless night, some time watching cycling’s Giro d’Italia to distract him, an airport press conference after the flight home and then the scan itself.

“We have two doctors and it was the junior of the two doctors. I might get in trouble for that because they are probably on the same level but he called me. And I knew as soon as he called me that he wouldn’t be doing the bad news. It would be the senior doctor giving me the bad news. I almost didn’t need to pick it up.

“I‘m pretty competitive. I hate missing footy altogether because of what I’ve gone through. So I was still pretty grumpy about the medial ligament. Twelve months down to three weeks and I was still pretty grumpy about the three weeks. But it was a good moment….”

In a fortnight where the Demons have had to process the fall out from ACL tears for Melksham and Luke Dunstan, Gawn has learned to smell the roses.

That gratitude didn’t quite last through his form slump, as he played self-confessed “miserable” football in a manner that didn’t help the club’s “Gawndy” combination.

For now Gawn is toeing the company line of Brodie Grundy – he has four years on his deal, he is going nowhere, we can both play in the same side if the coaches pick two rucks.

So he will go into battle against Mason Cox and Darcy Cameron confident he can get it done despite Grundy’s absence.

Amid the rollercoaster of a season Max and Jess announced the impending birth of a second child.

Son George was born only four weeks after the 2021 Grand Final, and with Gawn stuck in Perth Covid lockdown he at least dodged a decision on playing in that game or attending his birth.

Max Gawn with son George – who is going to be a big brother around Christmas. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

This time as Jack Crisp faces a similar issue with wife Mikayla’s pregnancy the Gawns have timed their run.

“It’s a boy,” Gawn reveals of the impending birth.

“We have named him Max Junior to start with. It’s a little better timed. This one is Christmas, the last one was very close to Grand Final day. George is nearly two. But it’s something I really enjoy. The three days off after the Sydney game Jess was working full time and I was with him by myself and it was beautiful.”

Two seasons on from that drought-breaking 2021 premiership in Perth there are so many people he would like to share a second flag with – although this time at the MCG.

“It’s a question I get asked a bit. 2021 was a tick. I managed to tick off a childhood dream. Unbelievable. But I didn’t get to do it with my mum and dad. I didn’t get to do it with my wife. I didn’t get to do it with my two-year-old son. I didn’t get to see Neale Daniher, David Neitz. Melbourne greats. Nathan Jones wasn’t even there.

“That is something I would like to do. Celebrate it with the people who mean so much to me. My parents have been there for the 186-point loss. They have been there for the two knee recos. They have been there for the biggest lows but for my biggest high they weren’t there.

“So it sort of feels like I’ve duped them a little bit. Although to be fair that was my goal last year as well and then we went out in straight sets.”

Gawn is hopeful of playing on past his current deal to 2025 but aware that next significant injury could end everything quickly too.

He will effortlessly ease into retirement given his charisma and charm as he expands his business portfolio and/or works in media.

In the space of an interview that stretches 40 seconds past the allocated 10 minutes he gives insight and wit into topics about parenthood, leadership, football mortality and contentment as a footballer.

He will toss the coin against footy’s new statesman in Darcy Moore on Thursday, happy that clubs are looking outside the square for captains but adamant they need to still “tick off game day as a leader”.

As someone who co-owns a cafe and wine bar as well as side media hustles and a role as a Lululemon ambassador, he has his own views on blending footy with outside responsibilities.

“It is something that‘s pretty important. With me if my screen time is too high, shutting myself off from my family, saying no to things and not going on outings then I find myself climbing into a hole and not playing good footy.

“So there is an element to both sides of the story. I was teammates with ‘Lewey’ and he’s pretty black and white so I understand where he’s coming from. But if I’m not performing out on the field sometimes it could be because I’m not being a great husband, not being a great brother, not being a great son. There are different parts to it.”

Gawn agrees the Melbourne captaincy sits relatively easily with him, blessed to have had his passion for helping young people stirred by the great Jim Stynes, whose Reach charity he still supports.

Max Gawn celebrates a goal against Brisbane earlier this season. Picture: Mark Stewart

But he will pass it on before the Melbourne era is over, aware all of Jack Viney, Christian Petracca, Jake Lever and Angus Brayshaw could do the job.

“It is something I think about because one thing I would like to do is leave the captaincy when the club is at its best. I don’t feel like throwing a new captain into the deep end when you miss finals then go. So it’s something I won’t hold onto forever. I‘m not going to captain the most games at Melbourne. I won’t be going anywhere near Garry Lyon.”

Before that comes that quest for a second premiership, one he believed in those dark hours in March might have been taken away from him.

Last year he could barely run as he managed a hip complaint that saw him pull out of the semi-final on game day before finally declaring himself fit against Brisbane.

He might not have his ruck partner Brodie Grundy by his side but he is fit, in form and bullish about his side’s chances of knocking off the minor premiers.

“(When the knee went) I had that feeling I am not going to be able to even have a chance to lift that cup. Because I knew the club was going to get to September again. So to be able to be here in September and lead the team out and get back into some good form, it’s exciting.”

Originally published as Max Gawn opens up on unfulfilled footy goals, life after the Demons captaincy and off field balance