2017 Player Reviews: # 11 Max Gawn

[Demonland 72,197]

ZING WENT THE HAMSTRING

At the start of the season Max Gawn was a big man with the world at his feet. The current All Australian ruckman was the pivotal ingredient of the club's midfield operations and his influence was missed both there and up forward during his 2½ month absence from the game. When he returned from his injury he was too far back in his conditioning to reach the heights of his stellar year in 2016 and he was not helped in one game when the umpires ganged up against his style of ruck work.

Date of Birth: 30 December, 1991

Height: 208cm

Weight: 111kg

Games MFC 2017: 13

Career Total: 74

Goals MFC 2017: 4

Career Total: 38

 

Season 2017 AFL Statistics

Kicks: 77

Handballs: 83

Disposals: 160

Marks: 46

Scores: 4 goals 3 behinds

Goal Assists: 3

Tackles: 36

Hitouts: 466 

Clearances: 35 

Clangers: 37 

Inside 50s: 26 

Rebound 50s: 13 

Frees For: 18 

Frees Against: 25

[beelzebub 23,376]

The King lost his Crown. Long live Max. Hoping for a return to service in 2018. Am sure he is too

Something of an Annus Horribilis for ol Max.  Not surprised he got frustrated. Has a whole preseason to get fit and sort out the 'vagaries" of the umpiring .

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Less clown activity, more footballer activity.

Is in the same boat as Watts imo.

If both completely and wholly devoted themselves to being elite athletes, (for more than one season) we'd see an enormous improvement in our side.

I get the feeling Gawn just thought it would 'happen' for him again this year. And hopefully it's been a big slap in the face for him.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,508]

Had been in incredible form since halfway through 2015, however that came to a sudden halt with a very serious hamstring injury.  He was brought straight back in to the senior team upon return, which may have been an error as he was lacking in match fitness, form and ultimately confidence.  His frustrations later in the year exacerbated his poor form and he was not able to recover from that.  It's perhaps important to remember that though he's been on the list for 8 years, he's still quite inexperienced as far as 'games played' is concerned.  He was getting to the right spots, the ball was simply not sticking like it used to.

 

Hopefully this preseason can be a bit of a reset for Maxy.  Pressure and expectation got the better of him in the second half of the year.  He is still capable of being one of the most dominant players in the league; form, fitness and attitude allowing.

[Diamond_Jim 12,589]

Could we have the demonland votes for Max prior to his injury.

It is all too easy to concentrate on his second half of the season which was sub par to say the least.

This time last year we were all salivating over 2017 with Max at full tilt. He along with Hogan are the players that win you premierships.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,508]

15 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Could we have the demonland votes for Max prior to his injury.

It is all too easy to concentrate on his second half of the season which was sub par to say the least.

This time last year we were all salivating over 2017 with Max at full tilt. He along with Hogan are the players that win you premierships.

i don't have the Demonland votes, but the stat were:

 

vs StKilda

KICKS .      MARKS .     HANDBALLS .    TACKLES.     HITOUTS .  

   9 .                4 .                    4                          4                    49        

Smashed Hickey in the hitouts and impact around the ground.  Received 5 Votes in the AFL Coaches Award.

 

vs CARLTON: Kicked a goal, but failed to get going.  Probably beaten by Kreuzer, but neither had a big impact on the game. 

KICKS .      MARKS .     HANDBALLS .    TACKLES.     HITOUTS .  

   6                  4                        9                       4                    28 .  

 

 

Edited September 20, 2017 by TeamPlayedFine39

[old dee 23,791]

19 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

The King lost his Crown. Long live Max. Hoping for a return to service in 2018. Am sure he is too

Something of an Annus Horribilis for ol Max.  Not surprised he got frustrated. Has a whole preseason to get fit and sort out the 'vagaries" of the umpiring .

If he can sort out the vagaries of umpiring we will declare him a genius.

[poita 3,902]

The odd thing about Max is that his first game back against West Coast, with no match fitness, was probably his best all round effort. The Swans targeted him physically the next week, and he dropped his bundle completely thereafter.

We can argue whether he was fit enough or not ad nauseum, but I suspect he just wasn't mentally up for the challenge this year. He just gave up against Sydney & St Kilda and went completely missing against Collingwood when our season was on the line. He got beaten both in the ruck and around the ground by some very ordinary players this year.

Right now the jury is out as to whether 2016 was a freak occurrence for a good player, or 2017 was a bad year for an excellent player. Max needs to cut back on the extra curricular activities, have a big pre season and focus on being the best footballer he can be next season. In a contract year you would hope he would have no shortage of motivation to get back to his best form.

[Melb-A-Toast 257]

3 hours ago, Demonland said:

Date of Birth: 9 January, 1996

Height: 187cm

Weight: 90kg

Games MFC 2017: 13

Career Total: 74

Goals MFC 2017: 4

Career Total: 38

That doesn't look like Max Gawn. :-(

 

[Demonland 72,197]

1 hour ago, Melb-A-Toast said:

That doesn't look like Max Gawn. :-(

 

Blame @Whispering_Jack. I'm just the runner. 

[Sir Why You Little 37,039]

Big Pre-Season needed

[Melb-A-Toast 257]

Age is on his side.  Expect a big growth spurt too.

[Demonland 72,197]

Just now, Melb-A-Toast said:

Age is on his side.  Expect a big growth spurt too.

Actually blame me. He sent through a correction that I obviously ignored.

[Demonland 72,197]

1 hour ago, Melb-A-Toast said:

That doesn't look like Max Gawn. :-(

 

Fixed.

[Vogon Poetry 2,095]

If my memory serves me correctly Max had a very good preseason and improved his fitness and endurance.  I get the feeling that whilst Max has a terrific sense of fun and humour he is hell bent on being as good as he can.  You don't make the improvements in his game to get to AA ruck in such a short period without serious focus.

He was good in the Saints game and down against Carlton before getting hurt against Cats.  On his return he was very good until he hurt his ankle against the Power at the MCG.  He was giving Ryder a bath and was BOG to half time.  But he didn't play well from that ankle injury on and I suspect he played under severe duress for the rest of the season. In his last few games he couldn't jump at all and had trouble running.  It wasn't fitness.

So much is made of players off field personality.  Jack Watts likes a beer with mates so he's not applying himself.  Max likes a laugh so he didn't apply himself this year.  It's just rot.  Players are allowed to have fun outside footy you know.

And I notice elsewhere some want to trade him.  Gotta be out of their minds in my opinion.

His injury ruined his year.  He played some good games and not so good games and was well down on his AA form.  I hope he gets a clear run at it next year as we'll be a far better team.

[Diamond_Jim 12,589]

3 hours ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

i don't have the Demonland votes, but the stat were:

 

vs StKilda

KICKS .      MARKS .     HANDBALLS .    TACKLES.     HITOUTS .  

   9 .                4 .                    4                          4                    49        

Smashed Hickey in the hitouts and impact around the ground.  Received 5 Votes in the AFL Coaches Award.

 

vs CARLTON: Kicked a goal, but failed to get going.  Probably beaten by Kreuzer, but neither had a big impact on the game. 

KICKS .      MARKS .     HANDBALLS .    TACKLES.     HITOUTS .  

   6                  4                        9                       4                    28 .  

 

 

thanks ... was he injured in round 3?

It was such a long painful season that those early rounds are now a blur

2 hours ago, poita said:

Right now the jury is out as to whether 2016 was a freak occurrence for a good player, or 2017 was a bad year for an excellent player.

And that is a question on which our potential flag hopes rest. If we have a post injury Max in 2018 we lose a fair percentage of our contested making ability not to mention our clearance dominance (if we ever really had it).

[Jibroni 5,003]

Maxy will hopefully be a one club man. I just hope we can find another backup ruckman to provide more support in 2018.

Not sure if the Pedo & TMac combination can work again.

 

 

[old dee 23,791]

24 minutes ago, Jibroni said:

Maxy will hopefully be a one club man. I just hope we can find another backup ruckman to provide more support in 2018.

Not sure if the Pedo & TMac combination can work again.

 

 

There is just as much chance as there was in 2017.

Obviously the way the FD sees it is they play one Ruckman and give support from other talls. The days of playing two Ruckman are gone. The modern game cannot cope with two slow giants in the 22. If we choose another Ruckman in the draft I will be surprised. 

[Big Demon 197]

Started well but the injury was a bad one, not all hamstring injuries are equal and his was shot. Could be a big factor next year.

[monoccular 17,431]

8 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

Less clown activity, more footballer activity.

Is in the same boat as Watts imo.

If both completely and wholly devoted themselves to being elite athletes, (for more than one season) we'd see an enormous improvement in our side.

I get the feeling Gawn just thought it would 'happen' for him again this year. And hopefully it's been a big slap in the face for him.

A bit harsh - a very debilitating hamstring injury, and his are far longer than most, cut him down in his prime.   Hope he recovers well through the off season.

[whatwhat say what 22,761]

I maintain that if you’d told me Gawn would miss 9 games, Jones 6, and Viney 5 and we’ll still finish outside the 8 on percentage I would be amazed...

There can be no underestimating the importance of Max for our side - you can point to stats of hit out percentage to advantage and blah blah blah all you want, but those sorts of numbers don’t include the sheer inspiration that he brings to the side

He is a man mountain and we were able to cobble together a ruck division without him...but we are so much better with him in the side

I think he was significantly hampered by his injury but such is his work ethic and determination that he was able to return to the field and perform to a solid but not outstanding standard

I imagine he is the sort of player who will be attacked the 2019 pre-season with gusto

[At the break of Gawn 4,460]

2018 will show us if 2016 was a flash in the pan or if he really is the most dominant ruckman in the game. 

[deelete my account 1,194]

2 hours ago, At the break of Gawn said:

2018 will show us if 2016 was a flash in the pan or if he really is the most dominant ruckman in the game. 

2018 may also show us he's somewhere in between, which is fine if everyone else is playing their part.

[deelete my account 1,194]

cont.. Even the most dominant ruckman of all time, Dean Cox, needed one of the best midfield groups of all time around him to be dominant enough to win a premiership, and they were still one kick away from winning none. Footy is a game of inches. Which to me means, no matter how dominant M.G. will be next year, it's going to take 21 other players to win a premiership.

Edited September 21, 2017 by Deeprived Childhood

[Biffen 12,943]

Effectively 2nd year blues for Max.