AFL 2024: Melbourne captain Max Gawn sets ambitious injury return

Melbourne’s captain says he will “push the envelope” in his recovery from an unusual injury, but is he out of step with club medical staff?

Max Gawn is targeting a speedy return from a chipped fibula. Picture: Graham Denholm / Getty Images

Melbourne captain Max Gawn insists he will push for a round 19 return against Fremantle even though his own medical staff has already ruled it out.

Gawn has the Demons’ crucial trip to Perth in his sights despite suffering a chipped fibula that the club said would sideline him for two to three matches.

Fronting reporters on crutches with his right ankle in a moon boot on Tuesday, the Melbourne skipper backed Brisbane recruit Tom Fullarton to take the No.1 ruck role in his absence.

But Gawn said he was intent on only missing Saturday night’s clash against Essendon as he eyed off a series of “eight-point games” integral to the Demons’ finals hopes.

Max Gawn is hellbent on returning for Melbourne’s round 19 clash against Fremantle despite suffering a chip to the bottom of the fibula in his right ankle. Picture: Graham Denholm Getty Images

“I’ve learnt a lot of things over my 16-year career to be able to cope with a little one or two-week injury … I’ll keep floating out the word ‘one’ even though the club won’t,” he said.

“I’m very bullish, whenever I get a target, I’m always trying to beat that, and that’s what I’m trying to do.

“I can’t honestly tell you that I’ll beat that (two to three weeks) because I currently can’t walk, but the human body is amazing. Hopefully, in the next day or two I’ll be able to walk around and what not, then I can try to push the envelope and see if I can get back as quickly as I can.

“I’ll be going to Perth no matter what the following week. I’m hoping to play, but there’s a chance to coach as well.”

Gawn said Fullarton, who had only managed 19 games in six years but caught the Demons’ eye in two finals he played against them in 2021-22, was ready to step up if selected.

Tom Fullarton (left) rucks against Paddy Ryder in his second season at Brisbane in 2020. Picture: Michael Klein

“He started (pre-season) really, really well … he was testing me out there in January and unfortunately hurt his hammy leading into that round 0 game and the nod went to Josh Schache,” Gawn said.

“I daresay if he was fully fit, he might have been debuting in that first game.

“He’s had to bide his time now for 16, 17 weeks – there’s multiple different ways they could still go, (but) if it is with Fullarton, I’d back him in.”

Gawn said there were “no hard feelings” between him and No.1 pick Harley Reid after their surprise halftime scuffle during Melbourne’s win over West Coast on Sunday.

The altercation came just after Gawn had suffered his ankle injury, although he played on into the final term before being subbed out.

“That’s what I told him (at halftime), ‘I love watching him play’,” he joked when asked about his praise of Reid prior to the match.

“I was pretty injured at that time, I hurt my ankle about a minute before that, funnily enough with Harley Reid.

Days after heaping praise on No.1 pick Harley Reid (left), Gawn found himself in a surprise wrestling match with the young Eagle at halftime on the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein

“I just wanted to have a few words with my opposing ruck and then Harley came from absolutely nowhere.

“We laughed our whole way through that little scuffle we had, there’s no hard feelings.”

Melbourne’s MCG clash against Essendon on Saturday night will be its annual Round for Reach, with this year marking the 30-year anniversary of Jim Stynes’ Reach Foundation.

“What Reach has focused on for 30 years – it started with Jim Stynes and it continues with all of us today – is to create an environment where we can truly build social and emotional resilience for young people and they are equipped to deal with everything that comes in their life,” Reach chairman Fergus Watts said.

“Everyone go to reach.org.au, donate $11 just to keep Jim’s legacy alive, and keep us working with between 40 (thousand) and 50,000 young people every year, developing them into a stronger mental position to tackle life.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: Melbourne captain Max Gawn sets ambitious injury return