Melbourne captain Max Gawn believes it cannot be underestimated how tough it was on his team to travel interstate for the opening game of the season.
Just hours before the opening bounce of the club’s clash with the Eagles on Sunday, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan confirmed the competition would break for a 10-week period.
With a number of players nervous about the trip to Perth, Gawn believed the decision played on the mind of his teammates over the last 48 hours.
“Don’t underestimate the risk that the travel had on a lot of players,” Gawn said.
“Everyone put their hands up and wanted to play. That’s young, millennial footballers.
“But this is a really risky thing that we’ve decided to come out and do and the stress that would have caused family with young kids at home.”
Gawn said despite the AFL going on hold, his mindset was still firmly set on helping the Demons achieve success this year.
“This initial bit will be around family, but me personally, I’m still in football 2020 mode,” Gawn said.
“I don’t know when that’s going to be. When football is going to be, but me personally I’m training for the next game.
“I don’t know if I’m allowed outdoors, if I’m on the treadmill inside, but that’s where my head is at the moment.”
