Footy Feed: Gawn Fitter Than Ever

Aging like a fine wine 🍷 

This was the first thing that appeared when I opened this thread so naturally I thought the thread title was misleading. 

Well done Max. Consummate professional. 

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1271644/gawn-to-the-max-melbourne-demons-skipper-max-gawns-injury-enforced-fitness-boost-his-special-place-for-clarry

Good article above on Gawn who talks about his fitness and expands on TC, Clarry and Ben Crowe. 

49 minutes ago, Lexinator said:

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1271644/gawn-to-the-max-melbourne-demons-skipper-max-gawns-injury-enforced-fitness-boost-his-special-place-for-clarry

Good article above on Gawn who talks about his fitness and expands on TC, Clarry and Ben Crowe. 

Loved the comment “ it’s no use putting your footy boots on until you learn to speak to each other “.

At 16? Wasn't he smoking at 16? 😂

 

EDIT: It's in 16 years. But it's still probably the same 

Edited February 24Feb 24 by Go Ds
.

Good article.

I'm not expecting him to be peak "Max Gawn" in the early rounds due to his lack of match practice but his solid fitness base should hopefully see him playing his best footy at the back end.

Chaplin, in the recent post game presser, indicated that Max might be rested at times due to the luxury of having TC on the list, or even having the two in the same side.

Don’t understand the all in hype on GWS, Hawthorn and even Brisbane in terms of premierships.. 

Brisbane lost 9 games and drew 1. They didn’t win 10 games in 2024 and only peaked when it mattered. Joe Daniher went crazy helped them too. Hardly invincible. 

Hawthorn played on adrenaline and Battle and Barrass are B graders, MAYBE bordering on A grade. Are they that significant of inclusions that would warrant outright second favorite? 

GWS will start the season with question marks around their depth with Taylor (concussion) and Tom Green injured. Taylor is prone to consistent injury. Cadman is still yet to prove himself and Hogan would need to replicate his insane 2024 form. 

With a fit and smartly managed Gawn throughout the season on top of other top lines returning like Oliver and Petracca, May and Lever in addition to Rivers and JVR who are both expected to be significant, we can make top 4. A bottom 6 draw will be handy.

I actually respect David King, but for him to completely rule Melbourne out of flag calculations is laughable. 

Make no mistake, we are right in this season. 

Edited February 25Feb 25 by VNightCityLegend

Reminds of all the pre-seasons when Tony Lockett turned up "fitter than he's ever been". My bet is that Trac and Cho Cho are training the house down.

39 minutes ago, VNightCityLegend said:

Brisbane lost 9 games and drew 1. They didn’t win 10 games in 2024 and only peaked when it mattered. Joe Daniher went crazy helped them too. Hardly invincible. 

They started the season 0-3, which means they went 18-1-5 for the rest of the season (including finals).

One straight kick in 2023 and they'd be back to back Premiers.

Joe Daniher is a massive loss, but they get back Coleman, Gardiner, McCarthy and Doedee who all missed the 2024 season. They also added young Ashcroft who, if anything like his brother, can have a a big impact from game 1.

1 hour ago, VNightCityLegend said:

Brisbane lost 9 games and drew 1. They didn’t win 10 games in 2024 and only peaked when it mattered. Joe Daniher went crazy helped them too. Hardly invincible. 

Firstly, I don't understand the bolded bit.

Secondly, isn't all about peaking when it matters? We certainly timed our run beautifully in 2021 after a patchy June and July.

Thirdly, although it's extremely hard to back up a premiership of late (unless you're Penrith or Kansas City Chiefs) Brisbane would have to be at the front of the grid in terms of flag chances. 

10 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Firstly, I don't understand the bolded bit.

Secondly, isn't all about peaking when it matters? We certainly timed our run beautifully in 2021 after a patchy June and July.

Thirdly, although it's extremely hard to back up a premiership of late (unless you're Penrith or Kansas City Chiefs) Brisbane would have to be at the front of the grid in terms of flag chances. 

ah yes but you need some "Official" help like the Panthers got, still fuming about the VAR decision on "that" try

33 minutes ago, Demon_spurs said:

ah yes but you need some "Official" help like the Panthers got, still fuming about the VAR decision on "that" try

In 2021 Penrith were saved in a 8-6 win over Parramatta in week 2 of the finals by their trainer who convinced the ref to stop the game for an injury to one of their players. It was a rolled ankle. Otherwise they play the last 2 minutes with 12 against 13. Like the Chiefs the refs give them help when required.

Edited February 25Feb 25 by Clintosaurus

6 hours ago, VNightCityLegend said:

Don’t understand the all in hype on GWS, Hawthorn and even Brisbane in terms of premierships.. 

Brisbane lost 9 games and drew 1. They didn’t win 10 games in 2024 and only peaked when it mattered. Joe Daniher went crazy helped them too. Hardly invincible. 

Hawthorn played on adrenaline and Battle and Barrass are B graders, MAYBE bordering on A grade. Are they that significant of inclusions that would warrant outright second favorite? 

GWS will start the season with question marks around their depth with Taylor (concussion) and Tom Green injured. Taylor is prone to consistent injury. Cadman is still yet to prove himself and Hogan would need to replicate his insane 2024 form. 

With a fit and smartly managed Gawn throughout the season on top of other top lines returning like Oliver and Petracca, May and Lever in addition to Rivers and JVR who are both expected to be significant, we can make top 4. A bottom 6 draw will be handy.

I actually respect David King, but for him to completely rule Melbourne out of flag calculations is laughable. 

Make no mistake, we are right in this season. 

I'll have what he's smoking.

6 hours ago, VNightCityLegend said:

GWS will start the season with question marks around their depth with Taylor (concussion) and Tom Green injured.

They will also be without Jake Riccardi (played 19 matches last year), Joe Fonti (5 matches last year), Toby McMullin (14 matches last year) and Harvey Thomas (22 matches last year) for the first two games of the year due to suspension 

there are a couple of others as well that didn’t play last year that have been suspended too …

their first three matches are against the filth, us and the dawks so it’s highly likely they start 0-3