Coach cops backlash after going public with personal revelation about Max Gawn
Melbourne Demons coach Simon Goodwin has come under fire around the AFL world after going public with a revelation about Max Gawn's private life, in the wake of his side's 59-point drubbing by North Melbourne. The Demons were given a sobering reality check by the once AFL easy-beats at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, as Kangaroos star Tristan Xerri won the ruck battle against Gawn, in what many suggested was a changing of the guard moment.
Gawn is a seven-time All-Australian and has long been the AFL's premier ruckman, but he was comprehensively outplayed by the man many have tipped to take his mantle. Xerri was best-afield and caused Gawn and the Demons headaches all game, with Melbourne coach Goodwin suggesting after the game that challenges in Gawn's private life were behind his underwhelming performance.
Asked about how Gawn had responded to losing the ruck duel, Goodwin told reporters: "Today he'll acknowledge he got beaten by a really good opponent, but you also have to realise that in life, there are other things that are going on. We'll support Max, he's a great person, a great leader, and there's a back story to everyone's performance. I'm not going to go into the details. There's footy, there's some stuff in life. He's someone we love dearly and he'll certainly be a big part of our response."
The Melbourne coach was asked to clarify the situation and responded by saying: 'I'm not going to go into the details, but you know, he's someone that - there's footy, and there's stuff in life, and we've just got to understand that people have back stories. And he's someone that we love dearly, and he will certainly be a big part of our response.'
"We'll support Max... There's a backstory to everyone's performance."Simon Goodwin has discussed Max Gawn's performance against the Roos: https://t.co/asVCPOXoVH#AFLNorthDees pic.twitter.com/ri1zwW9OlR
— AFL (@AFL) March 23, 2025
While few could criticise the sentiment behind Goodwin's comments around his captain, many questioned why the Melbourne coach felt the need to make mention of Gawn's private life in the first place. And by refusing to provide any further details about the topic, critics argued that all Goodwin had done was fuel more questions, speculation and rumours about the 33-year-old.
Veteran broadcaster Neil Mitchell and ABC reporter Marnie Vinall were among the many to question why the coach felt the need to comment without providing any detail.
I really hope Max and the people around him are ok. But gosh, addressing it in this way is not going to do much to help with rumours and speculation. https://t.co/MPSuiay6hr
— Marnie Vinall (@marnievinall) March 23, 2025
I respect and like Max Gawn as a man. I wish his coach would not throw attention on his private life. Please, it is not our business, whatever he was referring to . Max had for him a bad game. Leave it there.
— Neil Mitchell (@3AWNeilMitchell) March 23, 2025
full support to Max Gawn if there's something we don't know about (and I'm not trying to find out) but also uhhhhh this is probably gonna raise a million more questions https://t.co/SYNd7Nfnat
— Leonardo Puglisi (@Leo_Puglisi6) March 23, 2025
PR genius Simon Goodwin creates from nothing a media feeding frenzy on Max Gawn's personal life https://t.co/Yz6fieZ5oz
— James Nankivell (@JamesNanks) March 23, 2025
Gawn is normally so dominant in the ruck duels and few players have been able to consistently get the better of him like Xerri did on Sunday. The Kangaroos dominated in the last term and Goodwin pointed to North's displays in midfield as something his men could not cope with. The Demons rode their momentum to finish the game in style and Melbourne's coach lamented his side's inability to find a way back into the contest.
"Obviously losing the centre bounces the way we did early in that last quarter put us under enormous pressure - that's tough to watch and we have to be better at how we arrest momentum, especially around the centre square," Goodwin said. "I felt all day that was coming. We acknowledge and we accept that it's not to the level."
Melbourne yet again failed to capitalise on their chances in attack, particularly in a wasteful third term. The Demons ended up with more inside 50s - 56 to 53 - but struggled to score and Goodwin accepts it's something they need to find an answer for. "I know it's going to be a story and a narrative. In some ways, when you're two weeks in and you haven't seen the change you want, everyone is going to go down that path," Goodwin said. "We're confident with the work we've done over the summer, that we'll start to see it."
Kade Chandler was Melbourne's best player and the only real shining light in their forward line after kicking three goals for the game. But the loss means Goodwin's side are now 0-2 to start the season ahead of Saturday's home clash at the MCG against a refreshed Gold Coast side coming off a bye.
with AAP
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