But the bearded Demon acknowledged the danger when competing against the biggest bodies of the competition.

“Obviously someone my size needs a lot of power. You can’t be my size and just get pushed over because you’re strength then becomes a weakness,” Gawn told the Herald Sun.

“I still need to be as strong as possible and sometimes a little bit of extra weight can help that, so that could be one sort of problem.”

 

18 minutes ago, Demonland said:

But the bearded Demon acknowledged the danger when competing against the biggest bodies of the competition.

“Obviously someone my size needs a lot of power. You can’t be my size and just get pushed over because you’re strength then becomes a weakness,” Gawn told the Herald Sun.

“I still need to be as strong as possible and sometimes a little bit of extra weight can help that, so that could be one sort of problem.”

 

 

Please tell me that elementary school grammatical error isn't copied directly from the Herald Sun.

 

His quote brings to mind our JLT match against North when Petracca gave a little nudge to Majak Daw, who's much much larger, to take an easy mark and goal. My brother's a North supporter and I was watching with him. Good times.

7 minutes ago, Choke said:

Please tell me that elementary school grammatical error isn't copied directly from the Herald Sun.

Are you implying that I could make such a rookie error?

Just to be clear; the error was not mine.

Just now, Demonland said:

Are you implying that I could make such a rookie error?

Just to be clear; the error was not mine.

I was implying the opposite - that I am disappointed that a major Australian newspaper would make such an error.

1 minute ago, Choke said:

I was implying the opposite - that I am disappointed that a major Australian newspaper would make such an error.

Are you surprised? Unfortunately I'm seeing this more and more. I'm no English professor but I expect more from our press.

16 minutes ago, Demonland said:

Are you surprised? Unfortunately I'm seeing this more and more. I'm no English professor but I expect more from our press.

Me too.

Apparently the standards for a year 6 English essay are higher than a newspaper article.

Staggering.

I was watching closely for any evidence of this in the JLT, and thought Max held his ground very well, against a couple of big units in Goldstein and Hickey.  Even when Max held the best position and the opposition ruckman hit him at pace to knock him out of the way, he stood his ground very well and won a lot more hitouts than he lost.

His ability to stay on the park is huge for us, probably our most important player IMO.

Simple solution - a lead-weighted waist belt.   Put it on and off depending on the current opponent.   

6 minutes ago, sue said:

Simple solution - a lead-weighted waist belt.   Put it on and off depending on the current opponent.   

I imagine that that would make it difficult for him to be more agile around the field. I guess finding that balance is what the point of the article is.

This time last year we were all excited by what Gawn's ruck dominance could deliver.

Seems that our expectations are now tempered somewhat.

To me he is the most important player we have in the sense that if we can capitalise on his ruck dominance (that's a big "if) going all the way is not impossible.

1 hour ago, BigFez said:

I was watching closely for any evidence of this in the JLT, and thought Max held his ground very well, against a couple of big units in Goldstein and Hickey.  Even when Max held the best position and the opposition ruckman hit him at pace to knock him out of the way, he stood his ground very well and won a lot more hitouts than he lost.

His ability to stay on the park is huge for us, probably our most important player IMO.

He got pushed aside by Acres pretty easily in a marking contest. Probably partly due to positioning but it would be the sort of thing that could play on his mind if he has doubts.

31 minutes ago, Demonland said:

I imagine that that would make it difficult for him to be more agile around the field. I guess finding that balance is what the point of the article is.

Well I was joking.  But to take up the question seriously, while a heavy belt would make him less agile, the idea is that against some opponents weight is more important than agility.  Or he could put it on at throw-ins and hand it to a runner immediately after!  (yes, still joking)

27 minutes ago, Thrice said:

He got pushed aside by Acres pretty easily in a marking contest. Probably partly due to positioning but it would be the sort of thing that could play on his mind if he has doubts.

Yeah I saw that one.  I thought (hoped) he might have been playing for a free kick in that contest.

14 minutes ago, BigFez said:

Yeah I saw that one.  I thought (hoped) he might have been playing for a free kick in that contest.

I don't think he was playing for the free whilst "in the contest" but once he was pushed he did ask the question. At the time I thought it was free but the replay showed it wasn't. He was badly out of position for that contest. I'd like to see Gawny return to the great intercept marking in defence form of 2016.

I liked his running forward and his then his long handpass forward.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

I don't think he was playing for the free whilst "in the contest" but once he was pushed he did ask the question. At the time I thought it was free but the replay showed it wasn't. He was badly out of position for that contest. I'd like to see Gawny return to the great intercept marking in defence form of 2016.

Perhaps he wasn't expecting contact and was preparing to jump for the ball?  I can't remember the details exactly.  But watching the ruck contests he was able to hold his ground very well.  I can't see the lighter frame having a huge negative impact.  Once he gets his timing back in a couple of weeks I fully expect him to recapture the marking form of 2016.  It'll come.

There are ruckman whose main attribute is physical strength to hold position and resist opponents in static contests eg. Shane Mumford.

Others rely on their combination of size, mobility and tank to be mobile and rely on timing and spring to attack contests. This is how I see Max. Dean Cox and Goldstein had this ability in their prime and so did Max in his AA year.

Pushing and shoving in ruck contests does not often deliver clean supply to teammates but attacking the contest in motion allows for better quality supply. Attacking marking contests instead of standing still and fending off opponents is always preferable as it offers better chances of success.

Go Max. Play your game.

 

 

Hopefully writing Herald Sun columns is the extent of Max's media work this year. Just focus on your football, Max.

50 minutes ago, poita said:

Hopefully writing Herald Sun columns is the extent of Max's media work this year. Just focus on your football, Max.

 

what do you think max can only focus on 1 thing at a time, I like hearing our players in the media