Star Demon duo still talking through on-field argument
With just over 30 seconds left in the King's Birthday clash and Melbourne trailing by a point, Gawn had the ball in defence and attempted to open up the play but shanked his kick straight to Collingwood's Will Hoskin-Elliott.
The mis-kick effectively stamped out Melbourne's hopes of a late surge in Monday's thriller at the MCG.
Afterwards, a frustrated-looking May approached Gawn and remonstrated, before the Demons skipper pushed him away.
Gawn insisted he couldn't "confidently" say what May had said to him, but it was clearly around his decision to centre the ball.
"It says a bit about both of us, we were both extremely disappointed in that last 30 seconds," he told Triple M radio.
"I thought my reaction was really poor. I had a teammate just showing care - his version of care. From a long history with Steven May, he's strong with his care, but I know that.
"I'm really agreeable with how strong his feedback and terminology and his body language is on-ground because he gets the best out of his team.
"I can't confidently say what was said. It was definitely around my decision and I agree with him in hindsight that the decision was poor.
"... It was a genuine killer of a kick."
Gawn insisted his relationship with May was fine despite the demonstrative scenes.
"We were always going to be all good," he said.
"I've got a lot of respect for him, and he has respect for me.
"We're currently still talking through it via text and we'll probably see each other at some point."
May is known as a player who wears his heart on his sleeve and Gawn made it clear he had no issues with the way the defender went about things.
"I'm here to defend Steven," Gawn said.
"He's copped it a little bit in the media over the last 24 hours.
"If he had his time again, he might not do it on the final siren, thinking a camera there.
"But that's him throughout the whole game, that's both of us throughout the whole game, and unfortunately, that's been caught on camera.
"I make it a bigger thing by pushing him away, and I'm slightly disappointed in how it's played out."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Extent of mystery blow to key Crow revealed after shock hospitalisation
Adelaide key defender Jordon Butts has suffered a collapsed lung during his side's 11-point victory over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon. The 25-year-old copped a knock to his sternum at some point during the second quarter, however Crows head coach Matthew Nicks post-game was still none the wiser as to what incident caused the injury. Butts was taken down to the Marvel Stadium changerooms for a number of tests, and was having trouble breathing. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Via a club statement, Crows High Performance Manager Darren Burgess provided an update on the 85-gamer's condition. 'Jordon underwent a thorough examination at the ground and given his breathing was inhibited, he was sent to hospital for further assessment which revealed a punctured lung. He won't travel home with the team and instead he will remain in Melbourne overnight,' Burgess said. Subsequently, Butts will not return to Adelaide with teammates — instead staying interstate until he is cleared to travel. 'He'll spend the night here, and with the right people around him to make sure that he gets what he needs from this point on. But we won't know any more information until a specialist comes in and checks him up further,' Nicks told journalists in his post-game press conference. Fox Footy vision at half time showed Butts walking gingerly in the Adelaide changeroom on his way to hospital, evidently in pain. Young forward Brayden Cook also suffered a concussion after a head clash in his first game of AFL for the 2025 season, and has entered the league's concussion protocols. Despite losing two players, the Crows secured the victory in what was the latest failing for the Western Bulldogs to stamp their premiership credentials against a top-eight side. The Dogs came into the match with a 10-6 record, but nine of those victories had come against teams outside the top eight. All up they had a 1-6 record entering Saturday against teams currently in the finals positions, with a lone victory over GWS to go with defeats to the likes of the Lions, Pies, Suns, Cats and Hawks. Rather than shy away from the concerning record, the team's cheer squad dived straight off the deep end with its pre-match banner. 'They say we're flat track bullies, we think that's funny,' it said. 'Hey Crows, think you're tough? Give us your lunch money.' If anyone was doing some bullying at Marvel Stadium, however, it was Matthew Nicks' men, who are emerging as flag fancies themselves after their sixth win from their past seven games. For the record, that stretch includes wins over Hawthorn and the reigning premier Brisbane. The teams traded goals in the first term before the Crows took a seven-point lead into quarter-time, gradually building that to a match-winning 27-point edge at the last change. The Dogs kicked five goals to two in the final term, but it was too little to late for Luke Beveridge's side. While the Dogs' final aspirations will get another stern test against Brisbane next week, the Crows are scheduled for another high-stakes clash, hosting the Gold Coast Suns at Adelaide Oval in the final match of the round.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Is Galvin set for NSW Cup after omission from Bulldogs' top squad?
Mann, in particular, has established himself as Canterbury's first-choice interchange handyman, a role Galvin could potentially have filled. Against the Cowboys, Jaeman Salmon was deployed as bench utility, with the equally versatile Bailey Hayward starting at lock. Barring injuries or suspensions, it's hard to see where Ciraldo can squeeze Galvin into his squad, raising the question of whether he should return to NSW Cup to maintain match fitness while he waits for another top-grade opportunity. Ciraldo indicated it was a case of horses for courses in tropical Townsville, and admitted he had second thoughts about Galvin's omission when Burton left the field in the second half for a head-injury assessment. 'It was a hard one because it would have been nice to have Lachie on when 'Burto' went off,' Ciraldo said. 'I reckon if he [Galvin] was on there [the bench] to bring him on at the back end with fresh legs, I thought he could really have asked some more questions of the Cowboys' defence. 'But I thought we needed four forwards on the bench. [Max King] is backing up from Origin, Jaeman Salmon's first game back. 'We looked at the Cowboys-Melbourne game last week, and a lot of players were cramping up at the back end of the game, so we thought it was really important to carry an extra forward tonight. 'When 'Burto' went off, I was thinking maybe that wasn't the right decision, but it was clearly the right decision, because our forwards worked their arses off. And it was tough. It was hot and humid out there.' Ciraldo offered Galvin a glimmer of hope when he admitted Canterbury's attack looked 'a bit clunky at times', adding that their attack functioned better in back-to-back losses against Penrith and Brisbane, when Galvin played. 'It wasn't our best performance tonight,' Ciraldo said. Loading 'I thought we probably played better the last two weeks, especially with the ball. 'But we just had to scrap out a win tonight. Leaving 'Critta' [Crichton] and Kurt Mann at home, it was important these guys were able to graft out a win. 'Add 'Critta' and Kurt Mann - and Sitili comes back next week - we're starting to get our team back together and we're past this Origin period, and we can get into this last third of the season.' Ciraldo was delighted with the debut of 19-year-old local junior Jethro Rinakama on the wing. He scored Canterbury's second try, carried the ball 183 metres in attack and made all five tackles he attempted. 'I just thought he was brilliant,' Ciraldo said of the 19-year-old local junior.
The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
Is Galvin set for NSW Cup after omission from Bulldogs' top squad?
Mann, in particular, has established himself as Canterbury's first-choice interchange handyman, a role Galvin could potentially have filled. Against the Cowboys, Jaeman Salmon was deployed as bench utility, with the equally versatile Bailey Hayward starting at lock. Barring injuries or suspensions, it's hard to see where Ciraldo can squeeze Galvin into his squad, raising the question of whether he should return to NSW Cup to maintain match fitness while he waits for another top-grade opportunity. Ciraldo indicated it was a case of horses for courses in tropical Townsville, and admitted he had second thoughts about Galvin's omission when Burton left the field in the second half for a head-injury assessment. Toby Sexton hoists a bomb against North Queensland. Credit: Getty Images 'It was a hard one because it would have been nice to have Lachie on when 'Burto' went off,' Ciraldo said. 'I reckon if he [Galvin] was on there [the bench] to bring him on at the back end with fresh legs, I thought he could really have asked some more questions of the Cowboys' defence. 'But I thought we needed four forwards on the bench. [Max King] is backing up from Origin, Jaeman Salmon's first game back. 'We looked at the Cowboys-Melbourne game last week, and a lot of players were cramping up at the back end of the game, so we thought it was really important to carry an extra forward tonight. 'When 'Burto' went off, I was thinking maybe that wasn't the right decision, but it was clearly the right decision, because our forwards worked their arses off. And it was tough. It was hot and humid out there.' Ciraldo offered Galvin a glimmer of hope when he admitted Canterbury's attack looked 'a bit clunky at times', adding that their attack functioned better in back-to-back losses against Penrith and Brisbane, when Galvin played. 'It wasn't our best performance tonight,' Ciraldo said. Loading 'I thought we probably played better the last two weeks, especially with the ball. 'But we just had to scrap out a win tonight. Leaving 'Critta' [Crichton] and Kurt Mann at home, it was important these guys were able to graft out a win. 'Add 'Critta' and Kurt Mann - and Sitili comes back next week - we're starting to get our team back together and we're past this Origin period, and we can get into this last third of the season.' Ciraldo was delighted with the debut of 19-year-old local junior Jethro Rinakama on the wing. He scored Canterbury's second try, carried the ball 183 metres in attack and made all five tackles he attempted. 'I just thought he was brilliant,' Ciraldo said of the 19-year-old local junior. NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now Michael Chammas and Andrew 'Joey' Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter.
