Melbourne captain Max Gawn has thrown his support behind teammate Christian Petracca, and says he is ’embarrassed’ by media coverage of his furious post-game reaction after the Demons’ loss to Geelong.
Petracca hurled his mouthguard and was visibly distraught after the defeat, which leaves the Dees 0-4 to start 2025.
However, despite criticism of the blow-up in the media during the week, Gawn has staunchly defended the star midfielder, saying on Triple M’s Mick in the Morning that it ‘shows how much he cares’.
“Some people react really poorly… you don’t want to be anywhere near Steven May when we lose,” Gawn said.
“In Trac’s [Petracca’s] case, the camera is on him. It’s stiff. If the camera was on fifteen other blokes, there would have been similar reactions.
“I think he’s a little embarrassed that the camera was on him, and he’ll learn from it. It just shows how much he cares at the moment.”
Dees coach Simon Goodwin echoed Gawn’s comments, saying on Thursday that Petracca’s raw reaction is ‘what we love about him’.
“He wasn’t frustrated. He wants to win. And clearly he shows that with his emotion,” Goodwin said.
“As I said, he’s a winner. He’s determined for success, and that’s what we love about him.
“He cares about his footy club, he cares about his teammates, and he wants to be involved in a winning team. And there’s been a hell of a lot of commentary around it, both positively and negatively.
“From a coach, I loved it. I love that he’s got emotion. I love that he shows how passionate about his footy club, and he displays that on a daily basis when he’s in here.
“He’s helping develop young players. He’s helped coach the team and lead the team throughout the week, in training sessions and game day.
“So I love what he brings our footy club, and people will see it differently, but he’s an outstanding person for us.”
Gawn also defended the reaction of fellow star Clayton Oliver, who was seen smiling and joking with Cats players – a far cry to Petracca’s response.
“Some people react slightly differently, and it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t mean as much to them. It just means that Clayton [Oliver]might like to smile after the game,” Gawn said.
“His reaction throughout the week is that he’s still upset about the loss.”
With pressure mounting on the Dees and Goodwin, they face Essendon at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday night as part of Gather Round.
(with AAP)
West Coast have dropped star midfielder Tim Kelly for their Gather Round clash with Carlton, in Andrew McQualter’s first major selection statement as Eagles coach.
Kelly has been a regular in the Eagles team since a blockbuster trade saw him depart from Geelong at the end of 2019, playing his 100th match for the club in their Round 4 loss to GWS.
However, a poor start to the season, including managing just 14 disposals while being tagged by Toby Bedford in an 81-point loss to the Giants, Kelly has been left in Western Australia as the Eagles head to Adelaide to face the Blues, and will play in the WAFL on Friday night.
Remarkably, the 30-year old’s 77 career Brownlow Medal votes are more than the combined tally of his 22 Eagles teammates from the Giants clash.
In a statement released to 9 News, Kelly’s manager Anthony Van Der Wielen said he views the omission as ‘an opportunity to reset’.
“He’s obviously disappointed about that [being dropped] but understands the decision and knows his form hasn’t been at the level he expects of himself,” Van Der Wielen said of Kelly.
“He sees this as an opportunity to reset, build confidence, and hopefully push straight back into senior selection.
“Tim’s a proud player and a leader. One of the most driven and self-aware athletes I’ve worked with.
“He is very confident he can get back to his best form very soon.”
Kelly’s six-year Eagles contract expires at the end of 2025, with negotiations for a new deal reportedly yet to begin.
Having returned home to Western Australia for family reasons at the end of 2019, Kelly’s move has coincided with the darkest on-field period in Eagles history, with the club missing finals for four consecutive seasons and winning just 10 of its last 76 AFL games.
The Eagles sit last on the ladder after four rounds, with a percentage of just 51.9.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire believes Michael Voss is ‘gone’ if Carlton’s horror start to the season continues against West Coast.
The Blues are one of three teams, along with the Eagles and Melbourne, to be winless after four rounds of the 2025 season, with losses to Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, and most embarrassingly of all, wooden spoon favourites Richmond in Round 1.
Pressure has been building on Voss, who took over as coach at the end of 2021 and has steered the Blues to two finals campaigns in three years, with McGuire saying on his Eddie and Jimmy podcast that the three-time Brisbane premiership captain will be in big trouble if the Blues lose to the Eagles.
“If Carlton gets beaten by West Coast on the weekend, I think Voss is gone,” McGuire said.
“I know how Carlton behaves… I think he’s in a bit of trouble if they get knocked off by West Coast.
“[Blues fan and AFL media personality] Andy Maher got very upset at me when I said that [former Carlton coach Brett Ratten] was gone [in 2012] and Mick Malthouse was in. I knew where Mick was going – you could read the play on it.”
However, McGuire also believes the Blues will ‘flog’ the Eagles at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday to keep the wolf from Voss’ door.
The former Magpies president’s comments have been described as ‘disrespectful at best’ by another prominent former AFL figurehead, controversial one-time Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett.
I do not know if Eddie McGuire said it or is being accurately reported. But anyone suggesting that Michael Voss should or might be replaced as Coach of Carlton if the Blues lose to West Coast this weekend is being disrespectful at best,” Kennett wrote on X.
“Have they forgotten we at Hawthorn lost the first 6 games and went on to play finals [in 2024 – they actually only lost the first five matches].
“Brisbane Lions went one better after a slow start, to win the Premiership.
“Sadly today we have too many football shows where the majority of those so employed are desperately trying to be noticed. We are only 4 games into the season. Anything is still possible.”
Harry McKay has addressed his mental health challenges as the Carlton star prepares to return for the Blues after a three-week absence.
In a profound conversation with his twin brother, Essendon defender Ben, the 27-year-old opened up about experiencing some off-field battles six weeks ago.
“Late Feb (February), started feeling in not a great place mentally,” the Carlton forward said on the Ben and Harry podcast.
“I think the most challenging part of that was me thinking I shouldn’t be feeling the way I was.
“Everything in my world was in such a great place, which is why it was really scary knowing that it didn’t make a lot of sense and felt really irrational to feel like that.
“As that progressed, then unfortunately feeling in a worse and worse spot.
“I felt like I had to put on a bit of a facade to pretend to be OK when I really wasn’t.
“It got to a place where I had to put my hand up and say I needed some help.
“Since the moment I did that, the support and the love has been so profound.”
McKay was a late withdrawal from Carlton’s round-two game against Hawthorn, listed by the club as illness.
When speaking before the next week’s match against the Western Bulldogs, Blues coach Michael Voss admitted McKay was dealing with some personal challenges and would be out indefinitely.
But McKay has been training again for more than a week and even played for Carlton’s VFL team on Saturday night.
He will travel for their Gather Round clash with West Coast at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
“The moment I did (seek help) that support has been so beautiful – from partner, family, the wider football community and definitely everyone involved in my club,” Harry said.
“I knew everyone would be great, but it’s blown me away how loving and caring and supportive everyone’s been.
“The things you love the most are actually the hardest things to do when you’re feeling in a dark place, and that can be irrational and hard to get your head around.”
Ben finished the conversation by saying it had been hard to watch Harry struggle.
“From a brother’s point of view, it was extremely scary to see you in the state that you were, and that’s being totally honest,” Ben said.
“It was very hard to see someone you love going through what you were.”
(AAP)
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