Max Gawn has a ‘back story’ to his below-par AFL game, with Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin strongly supporting the Demons captain.
Gawn, the seven-time All Australian, had his colours lowered in an absorbing ruck duel with North Melbourne’s Tristan Xerri on Sunday at Marvel Stadium.
It proved pivotal as North monstered the Demons in the last term for a 59-point win.
Asked about how Gawn had responded to losing the ruck duel – a rarity for him – Goodwin said there had been contributing factors off the field.
“Today he’ll acknowledge he got beaten by a really good opponent, but you also have to realise that in life, there are other things that are going on,” Goodwin said.
“We’ll support Max, he’s a great person, a great leader, and there’s a back story to everyone’s performance.
“I’m not going to go into the details. There’s footy, there’s some stuff in life.
“He’s someone we love dearly and he’ll certainly be a big part of our response.”
Goodwin’s cryptic answer has raised eyebrows around the footy world, with suggestions he has created unnecessary speculation around Gawn.
It was reported on Fox Footy’s First Crack by journalist Jay Clark that the ‘back story’ Goodwin referred to may be a family member of Gawn’s in poor health.
Xerri’s best-afield game was among several major problems for the Demons on Sunday, with Goodwin admitting they ‘copped their right whack’ with the loss.
They were dominated in the last term and Goodwin said their inability to stop North’s momentum in the midfield was a worry.
“Obviously losing the centre bounces the way we did early in that last quarter put us under enormous pressure – that’s tough to watch and we have to be better at how we arrest momentum, especially around the centre square,” Goodwin said.
“I felt all day that was coming. We acknowledge and we accept that it’s not to the level.”
Also – yet again – Melbourne failed to make the most of their chances in attack, especially in the third term.
They ended up with more inside 50s – 56 to 53 – but struggled to score.
“I know it’s going to be a story and a narrative. In some ways, when you’re two weeks in and you haven’t seen the change you want, everyone is going to go down that path,” Goodwin said.
“We’re confident with the work we’ve done over the summer, that we’ll start to see it.”
Kade Chandler, Melbourne’s best player, was the exception to their forward line woes, kicking three goals.
(with AAP)
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has urged AFL pundits not to ‘bash the theatre out of the game’ after second-year star Harley Reid again found himself in the thick of it against Brisbane.
The marquee teenager wore criticism for his antics and lack of influence in a heavy loss to Gold Coast last week and was a natural target in Sunday’s 19-point defeat to Brisbane at the Gabba.
Reid finished with 15 disposals, seven tackles and six clearances but gave away seven free kicks as the visitors kicked the first five goals but were run down in the final term.
He had an altercation with Brisbane veteran Dayne Zorko and then, in the final quarter, playfully showed his middle finger to the crowd after one patron had thrust a packet of tissues towards him when he was sent sprawling to the turf.
Oscar McInerney’s hit on Reid resulted in a downfield free kick that led to a goal.
“There’s a fair bit of commentary about Harley all the time, so last week was not necessarily different,” McQualter said of the 19-year-old.
“We try and bash the theatre out of this game, don’t we?
“He’s just having a bit of fun and sometimes that’s good for the game, I think.”
The Eagles showed great resolve to win the early contests after being dominated in that area against the Suns a week ago, with McQualter crediting Reid for playing his part.
“His response today, he played the right way,” he said.
“Competed hard. He kept competing and had some big influence on the game at different times.
“He’s still learning the game… and we’re going to support him.”
(AAP)
AFL great James Hird has blasted troubled Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, after he failed to attend the Dogs’ 100th anniversary celebration match on Friday night.
While his teammates went down in a thriller to Collingwood by just six points, Ugle-Hagan was posting with friends on social media at Brighton Beach Hotel, having reportedly attended NBL and NRL games in Melbourne in the lead-up to Friday’s match.
Speaking on Nine’s Footy Furnace, Hird described the behaviour as ‘very strange’.
“It’s unacceptable… you’d think that the most important thing is to go and watch your teammates, whether it’s the 100th [anniversary] game or not,” Hird said.
“I can’t imagine a player not going to watch his teammates unless he’s ill.”
Rumours of a rift between Ugle-Hagan and senior Bulldogs players and staff have been rife throughout a turbulent summer, with the talented 22-year old spending time away from the club, after nearly being omitted from their elimination final loss to Hawthorn in September last year.
However, Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains remains adamant the former No.1 draft pick won’t be traded under any circumstances.
“There is absolutely no thought about an impending departure,” Bains said on ABC Radio.
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