He's certainly in the conversation for one of our best players of all time. It's amazing how 4 or 5 weeks ago people were raising concerns about his form. His past month has been incredible. He's possibly in the form of his life at the moment.

Wasn't there a topic at the start of the season claiming he was badly out of form?

Having said that, and with respect to statistics, this season he is apparently performing better than he has previously played, averaging the most disposals he has had per game, the most marks, the most goals, the most inside 50's and equal most clearances. 

As others have suggested, these do not show the full story. 

He is the best captain in the league, a great character for the Melbourne Football Club and a wonderful mentor for the younger players.  

He may not be as a pure footballer, the best in the league but he must be very close to the most valuable.

6 votes in the last 2 games. Was huge yesterday for four quarters 

I manage to see some of the MFC greatest players and as ruckmen Gawn and Stynes are streets ahead of the others and we only realise how lucky we are after they retire from the game but Gawn has set a very high bar for our next generation of ruckmen to follow.

Cornes had him AA captain this morning 

In 2018 he was voted by the coaches as the best player in the league. The coaches are the best judges as they know the game inside out and what roles players are being asked to fill etc. The past 5 coaches MVPs for context,

2017 - Dusty

2018 - Gawn

2019 - Bontempelli

2020 - Neale

2021 - Clarry

Hard to argue with any of those. Gawn is a champion and gets recognized as one of if not the best player in the game.

With respects to the question posed by the title of this thread, I think Gawn has already been acknowledged as the best player in the league.  

Lord Trav somewhat beat me to the punch.  Back in 2018, when he had arguably his best individual season, he took out pretty much every players award bar the Brownlow and I think AFL Coaches and AFLPA awards are a much better measure than the umpires award.

Of course last year, he became the first MFC premership captain in over 50 years, so that probably also makes 2021 an even more valuable contribution than 2018.

While Jackson is presently rated so highly, I think there is an aspect of that which is prospectively based on what he is deliving realitive to it being so early in his career and future potential.  It's actually really Gawn that is still the lynch pin, anchoring the ship, providing the lions share of output and delivering what is required every match.

Edited May 1, 20222 yr by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

Yesterday while still recovering from the dreaded Lurgy, I watched the game on Kayo. This is the 1st time I have heard all the commentators (barracking for the hawks, of course) say "Why would you even kick it to the same side of the ground as Gawn"? They all seriously agreed that the game plan should be "keep it away from Gawn". They werent kidding. I think Id heard something like this once before in regard to Anthony Koutoufedis. But that was long ago. Pretty high praise!

No.  The best player is always an inside mid

I’m becoming more inclined to think of Max as not just the best in the league, and not just the best that Melbourne has produced, but as the GOAT to have played the game!

There are (and have been) great midfielders, great forwards, great backs and great ruckmen, but Max encompasses the best qualities of all of those footballing ‘arts’.

The fact that he will most likely never win the Brownlow (read, midfielder’s medal), is an absolute travesty!

Was listening to SEN a few days ago and Hinkley was asked which player he would like to have in his team if he could have anyone outside of Port. He chose Gawn without hesitation.

Maxy now expects to kick a couple of goals from outside 50 each game. 
So deflating for opposing teams 

Gawn is 3 players in 1

Dominant centre bounce and throw in ruckman/clearance player.

Elite around the ground intercepter

And now, forward marking and goal kicking threat. 

He's miles ahead of any replacement player (for 3 years now) and thats why he'd be recognised the most valuable player in the league i reckon, if not the best.   

 

1 hour ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

With respects to the question posed by the title of this thread, I think Gawn has already been acknowledged as the best player in the league.  

Lord Trav somewhat beat me to the punch.  Back in 2018, when he had arguably his best individual season, he took out pretty much every players award bar the Brownlow and I think AFL Coaches and AFLPA awards are a much better measure than the umpires award.

Of course last year, he became the first MFC premership captain in over 50 years, so that probably also makes 2021 an even more valuable contribution than 2018.

While Jackson is presently rated so highly, I think there is an aspect of that which is prospectively based on what he is deliving realitive to it being so early in his career and future potential.  It's actually really Gawn that is still the lynch pin, anchoring the ship, providing the lions share of output and delivering what is required every match.

100% this. He was at least at some stage the best. If you qn whether he his right now, then he’s definitely top 10. And really from there it’s more about consistency rather than talent as it’s hard to split the players in that bracket. 

2 hours ago, durango said:

I manage to see some of the MFC greatest players and as ruckmen Gawn and Stynes are streets ahead of the others and we only realise how lucky we are after they retire from the game but Gawn has set a very high bar for our next generation of ruckmen to follow.

5 time premiership ruckman Big Bob Johnson says hello

3 hours ago, BDA said:

He has standards and sets a great example for the rest of the group. Look at the physical condition he is in. A lot of hard work goes in to building a tank like he has. There aren't many players in the league can get up and down the ground like he does. He just keeps improving as well and has added goal kicking to his repertoire. Another AA jacket on the way and most likely as captain as well

We're blessed people

If only Jim could've watched him become a star 🥹

Yesterday was 3rd or 4th in line from centre clearances with 50 m bullets 

1 hour ago, In Harmes Way said:

5 time premiership ruckman Big Bob Johnson says hello

Only Bob Johnson hardly ever rucked played mainly in the forward pocket, because there were other work horse ruckmen like Don Cordner, Denis Cordner, Terry Gleeson and Len Mann.  I saw these players in their prime and Gawn or Stynes would wipe the floor with them due to his height and mobility.

2 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

Maxy now expects to kick a couple of goals from outside 50 each game. 
So deflating for opposing teams 

You just know he's going to kick those. If he's ever in close he should go back and kick from the 50

Craig Jennings rated him the best in the game 2 years ago.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/08/06/does-max-gawn-have-as-much-impact-as-some-of-the-games-greats/

Not only is Gawny a phenomenal player and the best ruckman in the league by some length, it has to be recognized that he is probably also the best captain. 
He is an unbelievable captain and I think has set a precedence in AFL for what modern day leadership should be. He is so relatable. He doesn’t ask for perfection, just buy in.
Guys love playing for him and with him because he lets them be who they are and accepts them flaws and all, which is incredibly important in modern society. 

We are incredibly lucky to have him. 

Dempsey, S Madden, Moore, Cox and Gawn are the best ruckmen I have seen. I now have him overtaking Moore (that is a huge thing right there) place him equal to Dempsey, and just behind Madden. And as far as general play, he is just behind Moore and Madden. As far as workrate, he is in front of all of them. 

He is a star, a brilliant leader, and definitely in the top 5 current players. 

2 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Not only is Gawny a phenomenal player and the best ruckman in the league by some length, it has to be recognized that he is probably also the best captain. 
He is an unbelievable captain and I think has set a precedence in AFL for what modern day leadership should be. He is so relatable. He doesn’t ask for perfection, just buy in.
Guys love playing for him and with him because he lets them be who they are and accepts them flaws and all, which is incredibly important in modern society. 

We are incredibly lucky to have him. 

Definitely not probably!

Well if stats were a problem then yesterday should appease the stat lovers.

I've often thought that a better way to rank players would be to (simulate a) draft for an all-stars game.

Each team coach/selector take turns in selecting players for their team until they have 23. In such a scenario, wouldn't you pick Max at #1?  There are enough champion midfielders that if you didn't get Oliver, you got Cripps or Neale or Wines or Petracca or  Martin or Fyfe etc

The competition for selection would come over specialist positions rather than midfielders. Langdon would picked early, as would May.