Simon Goodwin praised Max Gawn’s impact after the ruck star shook off a calf issue to lead Melbourne to a dominant 38-point victory over St Kilda, propelling them back into the AFL’s top four. Gawn, having passed a late fitness test, delivered an outstanding performance in the Demons’ 14.16 (100) to 9.8 (62) win at the MCG on Sunday. The imposing captain amassed 27 disposals, 10 clearances, seven marks, and a goal, helping Melbourne (7-4) climb from ninth to fourth on percentage.
“He played well, and that typifies the leader he is,” said Melbourne coach Goodwin. “He knew it was an important week for us to get right, and he stepped up.”
Gawn’s excellence provided silver service to his midfielders, with Alex Neal-Bullen (27 disposals), Clayton Oliver (24), Christian Petracca (24), and Christian Salem (32) all capitalizing. Multiple goals came from Jacob van Rooyen (three), Bayley Fritsch, Jack Viney, and Petracca (two each). Adam Tomlinson, stepping in for injured defender Jake Lever, excelled alongside Steven May, with the pair combining for 23 intercepts. Tom McDonald also bolstered the Demons’ defense, which restricted St Kilda to just five goals over the first three quarters.
Goodwin highlighted the team’s improved contest work and defense following a humbling loss to West Coast, stating, “The boys went after that, and it was a really pleasing performance right across the board for the whole day. It was really encouraging. We’re still a work in progress … and that’s OK, but it was a step forward.”
The win came at a cost, as versatile tall Harrison Petty was substituted out with a sprained ankle, requiring further assessment ahead of their clash with Fremantle in Alice Springs on June 2.
For St Kilda, Max King (three goals) and Jack Higgins (two goals) made notable contributions, with Captain Jack Steele (33 touches) and Jack Sinclair (30) fighting hard in the midfield. However, Coach Ross Lyon lamented the Saints’ poor ball use, decision-making, and defensive lapses, which were exploited by Melbourne’s outside run. The loss leaves the Saints (3-8) with their finals hopes in disarray at the season’s midpoint.
“I feel for our fans and our members, and I just said to our players we need to stick together,” Lyon said. “We’ve really fallen away a bit, so we’ve got to go away and assess, keep a cool head, take the heat that comes, and stay true to working hard and keeping a safe environment for the players.”
