Carlton prepare for Coleman medallist Harry McKay to return; Max Gawn explains Simon Goodwin comments about personal issues

Bulldogs defenders Liam Jones and James O’Donnell are expected to return from injury if they get through training on Wednesday.

Jones, in particular, would significantly strengthen a Dogs’ backline that has relied on ruck/forward-turned-defender Rory Lobb to lead the way.

Like his probable opponent Curnow, Jones’s preseason was severely interrupted by injury when he sustained a high-grade hamstring strain eight weeks ago at training.

‘Love, support and care’: Gawn defends Goodwin, opens up on family illness

Jon Pierik

Melbourne captain Max Gawn says he has no issue with Simon Goodwin after the Demons coach disclosed his star player was dealing with a personal “backstory”, but admits the matter could have been handled differently.

Goodwin raised eyebrows on Sunday after the Demons’ 59-point loss to North Melbourne, revealing that Gawn – for so long the league’s premier ruckman, but, on this occasion, well beaten by Kangaroos’ counterpart Tristan Xerri – had “some stuff in life” he was managing and “people all have backstories”.

“In life, there are other things that are going on,” Goodwin said.

While it’s rare for coaches to freely disclose such information, Gawn on Tuesday said he had no issue with his coach, and opened up about what he has been dealing with for two years.

“I am OK. There is an illness in the family., it’s been for a while, about 24 months, to be honest. I have put myself in a really good spot throughout that 24 months, to be honest,” Gawn told Triple M.

“I have played some good footy, got some great people at the club, great people in my family, and I have turned up every single day ready to be a captain, a player and have turned up at home ready to be a husband and dad.

“I am in a really good spot, so is the family member, at this point. It did sort of escalate over the last three or four weeks, but it’s back to a steady start now. ”

Goodwin had said throughout the pre-season the Demons would show greater “love” for each other, having endured a tumultuous 2024 campaign where star players Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver considered leaving the club, while president Kate Roffey and chief executive Gary Pert departed.

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Gawn said Goodwin’s comments were a sign of “love”.

“On those comments, I love that the coach loves me. It clearly shows that he cares. He is 100 per cent right. There are reasons behind performance issues for some players,” Gawn said.

“That wasn’t me on the weekend. I got myself into a really good point to be able to play. I just got beat. We all just got beat, apart from Kade Chandler, to be honest.

“I won’t hide behind that. But I understand what my coach is doing. He is a father figure for me. He was showing love, he was showing care. I appreciate that.”

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Gawn said he had been in “open dialogue” with club officials about how he was handling the matter to ensure he could be the best captain and player he could be. He said he had spoken with Goodwin on Monday about Sunday’s events.

“We spoke a lot yesterday, and we speak every single day. There are no issues with me and Goody. I can clearly see what he was trying to do, show me love, support and care. And I don’t mind,” Gawn said.

“I spoke with that family member yesterday, they don’t mind. So, yeah, it’s fine.

“I think if we all went back to the start of the press conference, we potentially would say: ‘I just got smashed by Xerri’. But I also don’t mind how it’s played out.

“I have had some ups and downs throughout the journey, but I have got myself in a really good spot to be able to play some good football. I know I am a mental health advocate. I would clearly stand aside from football if I was struggling, but I have some great people both at the club and at home that keep me in a good place.”

Gawn had 11 disposals, 27 hitouts but only one clearance on Sunday, compared to Xerri’s 20 touches, 29 hitouts and 12 clearances and a goal.

Gawn said the Demons’ intent on Sunday had been below par.

“I have never actually believed this line – we didn’t turn up – but that’s what it certainly looked like. It looked like a team came ready to play some pretty hard, contest football, and one team sort of got bullied off the ball,” Gawn said.

The Demons are winless after two rounds, and host Gold Coast at the MCG on Saturday.