Latest news with #MaxGawn
News.com.au
20 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Melbourne captain Max Gawn says he didn't get organised fast enough in the frantic loss to St Kilda
Melbourne captain Max Gawn concedes he failed to 'nail' the dramatic final few moments of Sunday's stunning loss to St Kilda that has put coach Simon Goodwin's future in the spotlight. But the Demons skipper was adamant Goodwin was his 'favourite coach' and said the blame should lay with the players as he broke down exactly what went wrong. Gawn tried to organise his troops after some centre-circle confusion when St Kilda was given a 6-6-6 free kick, with scores level and just eight seconds on the clock. But that organisation didn't secure an opponent for Saints star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who kicked his second goal in the final minute of the game to deliver his team the greatest comeback in VFL/AFL history and a six-point win with a goal after the siren. 'I'm probably the only one on the field who knows that we got a warning in the second quarter; they tell the ruckman,' Gawn said. 'We were about to step in the circle, and I realised we had about two seconds to find a winger; there wasn't a winger on the other side. From there, I didn't nail it. 'In the end, it's three seconds, so I don't have much time, but I sent (Jack Viney) to the wing and tried to get a forward in – but it was a back that we had too many of. After that free kick happened, we didn't nail it as well.' Melbourne gave up a 46-point three-quarter-time lead as the Saints charged home with nine final quarter goals, including the last two to Wanganeen-Milera that has been labelled the best 60 seconds of football ever. Gawn, who said he didn't play 'my best quarter' in the final stanza, said while it looked like the Demons 'shut up shop', it was just too hard to halt St Kilda's momentum. 'We played pretty well for the first three quarters, but they kicked two or three early in the fourth (quarter) and it's pretty hard to stop momentum, especially the way the Saints were playing,' he told Triple M's Mick in the Morning. 'We started to lose the centre bounce, and then when it's three goals to play with that comeback, it's extremely hard to stop. Leaders, most importantly, were responsible for a bit of that. I didn't play my best last quarter.' The Demons tried to break down the final few minutes in the aftermath, which Gawn said had happened too many times, including against Collingwood when the captain's kick across goals in the dying seconds resulted in a major to the Magpies. Gawn said it seemed his team 'don't know how to win' close games. 'We spent 10 minutes in the rooms before Goody called us in. We talked among ourselves for a little bit, and the mechanism of the last play and try to find out what happened,' he said. 'There's been five times this year where we haven't known how to win; Giants in the first game we lost by a kick-out, Collingwood we lost by a ruckman trying to kick a torp across goal, and then last week against Carlton we stuffed up. Right now, we don't know how to win in those close games which comes down to resilience and ruthlessness. 'We are trying our backsides off, and we all really want to win. We have to learn how to win. We will talk the talk again in training; all our talk is there and then we get to the point, and we don't do it.'
News.com.au
20 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Dumbest thing seen': Dees' huge whack after St Kilda melt down
Melbourne's leaders have been called out for their dying seconds 'panic' in the historic six-point loss to the Saints on Sunday. When Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera kicked a goal to level scores with just eight seconds to play, the Demons coughed up a 6-6-6 infringement free kick in the middle of the ground. 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? Join now and get your first month for just $1. And what followed was pure chaos as Melbourne's players took off, only to be called back, before that man Wanganeen-Milera bobbed up again to kick the winning goal in a stunning 15.6 (96) to 13.12 (90) victory. 'There was a rush of blood to defend long and deep,' AFL great Dermott Brereton said. 'It was panic stations.' In all the confusion, Max Gawn, Jack Viney and Kysaiah Pickett all returned to the middle of the ground in a move that ultimately proved costly as Wanganeen-Milera streaked forward, marked inside 50 and nailed the matchwinner. It created history for the Saints, with the biggest three-quarter time comeback ever, from 46 points down. Two-time premiership Roo David King labelled the Dees' dying seconds brain fade as a 'cardinal sin'. 'Name me the leaders at Melbourne. They're all there. They've got (Christian) Petracca, Gawn, you've got (Christian) Salem behind the footy, (Tom) McDonald. They're everywhere there. They should have understood this situation,' King said on Fox Footy's First Crack. 'They should have understood the 6-6-6. Instead of getting confused here … why is Max back in the middle? 'I just spoke with (ex-AFL umpire) Ray Chamberlain, he said there is no rule that says Max has to go back in and reset. He should be the loose man. 'What the hell is Viney doing in the middle of the wing when his opponent has gone to the left edge to charge forward? 'So, as the fourth midfielder comes in no one is communicating. No one knows who's got who. 'Viney is thinking, 'I've got to get back to Wanganeen-Milera'. I'm assuming that's what he's thinking because he's not going with (Saint Anthony) Caminiti, who charges to the left. 'He clearly doesn't get there, he doesn't surge, now he doesn't know what he's doing and the rest of the Melbourne backs are all here. 'Why is Bowey out there? If he's all the way out there that's fine. Stay there. 'He turns to correct and he's not organising Viney. He should be saying to Viney, 'Come back' … Bowey turns and he's not even facing the play. 'I don't understand how they've capitulated so poorly in the space of 30 seconds. 'They haven't assessed the situation. 'They haven't assessed the likely danger zones and they've allowed Wanganeen-Milera to charge unopposed into that dangerous area through a lack of understanding of what's going to happen and a lack of communication. To not have Kosi Pickett on the ground during those last five minutes was unforgivable. Nothing excuses that. — Adam White (@White_Adam) July 27, 2025 Oh, Melbourne …. How the hell did that just happen! 0.4 to 9.2 in the last term … not just a 6x6x6 infringement at the end, but leaving NAS loose in the final play! That has to be a brutal, brutal review. — Glenn McFarlane (@MaccaHeraldSun) July 27, 2025 'This is on them and the details matter. This comes back to coaching, I don't care what anyone says. 'It comes back to learnt habits, learnt skills at training … They should have known these things. This is their profession. 'I'm disappointed with Melbourne because this is a game they played really well for three quarters and have just lost their minds. 'It's the dumbest thing I've seen this year. 'Viney standing, wrong side of his opponent 30 metres (away), giving a tall – a targeted player – he can contested mark this guy Caminiti, allowing him to go inside 50 unopposed is just a cardinal sin.' Goodwin was seen looking bemused on the bench while their footy head of development Mark Williams was still counting players when the ball was handed back to Saints big man Rowan Marshall – who nailed the kick to Wanganeen-Milera. 'Pickett and Petracca didn't have to be at the circle,' Fox Footy's Leigh Montagna said. 'They could have been all the way back just inside the square because they knew it was St Kilda's free kick. 'Simon Goodwin was coaching from the bench … he wasn't giving instructions to his players at all. He was standing there watching. 'If you're on the bench, that's one of the advantages you have as a coach is to be able to yell out to your players in that situation. 'Jack Viney, his vice-captain, would have been 40 metres away from him.' Speaking after the one-goal loss, Goodwin described the defeat as 'unacceptable'. 'We won't shy away from it at all. We won't sugar-coat it,' he said. 'We'll just own it and do something about it and make sure it never happens again. 'Today is unacceptable. For all the good that was in the day, that last quarter was so far off.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Ramifications' for Demons' leaders after mistake labelled 'worst in AFL history'
Questions are being asked of the leadership of the Melbourne Demons after they coughed up the biggest three-quarter-time lead in VFL/AFL history on Sunday. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was the hero as St Kilda erased a 46-point deficit for a staggering 15.6 (96) to 13.12 (90) victory at Marvel Stadium. The aftermath has been swift and severe for the Demons, with serious questions being asked of their leaders. With the score level at 90-all with eight seconds remaining, Melbourne conceded a 6-6-6 infringement from the restart. What ensued was absolutely diabolical for Simon Goodwin's side, with Wanganeen-Milera given an unchecked run into the 50m circle to take an easy mark to slot the winning goal. The Demons didn't appear to know the rules around the 6-6-6 restart, and a number of players lost their heads on the final passage of play. Jack Viney was standing on the wing marking no-one, when he should have been back behind the ball. Skipper Max Gawn sprinted back without checking any of the St Kilda players, while the Demons' coaching staff didn't appear to be communicating either. Dissecting the final passage of play for on Sunday night, Kane Cornes said it was the "worst 69 seconds in the game's history". Cornes pointed out the Demons were given a whole minute to get their defensive structure in place after the umpire called the 6-6-6 infringement, but still got it horribly wrong. "Look at Jack Viney there, look at Kozzie Pickett (marking nobody)," Cornes said. "They let Wanganeen-Milera mark the ball inside the forward 50 with no-one on him. It's the worst 69 seconds I've ever seen. "You just wonder about Simon Goodwin and what that means for the challenges that he's had with his coaching, and whether they're sitting back wondering 'gee is he the right man?'. Not only after this year but the mistakes that were made in this last quarter. "I saw Simon Goodwin on the interchange bench and he was just standing there. There was no instruction, there was no direction. To me it appeared as though Melbourne were so defeated once they realised they couldn't win that game of footy." "This is the worst 69 seconds in the game's history."Kane unpacks the Saints' incredible fourth-quarter comeback on First Up. — AFL (@AFL) July 27, 2025 David King critical of Melbourne Demons' leaders Speaking on Fox Footy, David King was just as critical of the Demons' leaders. King suggested the Dees players didn't know the rules and where they were allowed to stand on the restart from the 6-6-6 infringement. 'Name me the leaders at Melbourne. They're all there," King said. "They've got (Christian) Petracca, Gawn, you've got (Christian) Salem behind the footy, (Tom) McDonald. They're everywhere there. They should have understood this situation. 'They should have understood the 6-6-6. Instead of getting confused here … why is Max back in the middle? I just spoke with (ex-AFL umpire) Ray Chamberlain, he said there is no rule that says Max has to go back in and reset. He should be the loose man." RELATED: Toby Greene banned over contentious act against Sydney Swans AFL fans shower Joel Selwood with praise as Geelong hero returns King continued: 'What the hell is Viney doing in the middle of the wing when his opponent has gone to the left edge to charge forward? So, as the fourth midfielder comes in no one is communicating. No one knows who's got who. "I don't understand how they've capitulated so poorly in the space of 30 seconds. They haven't assessed the situation. They haven't assessed the likely danger zones and they've allowed Wanganeen-Milera to charge unopposed into that dangerous area through a lack of understanding of what's going to happen and a lack of communication. "This comes back to coaching, I don't care what anyone says. It comes back to learnt habits, learnt skills at training... They should have known these things. This is their profession. It's the dumbest thing I've seen this year." AFL world blown away by Demons' mistakes Reporter Mitch Cleary wrote on social media: "Was 55 seconds from the Demons' 6-6-6 infringement to the Saints actually getting the ball. How on earth has no one on the Dees' bench told Jack Viney to get to the defensive edge of the centre square?! Would've been in the exact hole where NWM marked it." While Daniel Garb suggested it could have 'major ramifications' for some at Melbourne. Was 55 seconds from the Demons' 6-6-6 infringement to the Saints actually getting the ball. How on earth has no one on the Dees' bench told Jack Viney to get to the defensive edge of the centre square?! Would've been in the exact hole where NWM marked it — Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) July 27, 2025 There were about 60 seconds between knowing there'd be a 6-6-6 free kick and the play actually after that not only does no-one track Wanganeen-Milera, Caminiti also floated down from his wing into so much space the Dees just in a haze thinking 'eight… — Ricky Mangidis (@rickm18) July 27, 2025 Oh, Melbourne …. How the hell did that just happen! 0.4 to 9.2 in the last term … not just a 6x6x6 infringement at the end, but leaving NAS loose in the final play! That has to be a brutal, brutal review. — Glenn McFarlane (@MaccaHeraldSun) July 27, 2025 What an insane finish. Nasiah the biggest one man team in the league. And not far off the best ramifications coming at Melbourne you feel. #AFLSaintsDees — Daniel Garb (@DanielGarb) July 27, 2025
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Scary moment Demons star is knocked out cold by opponent's shocking move
A North Melbourne ruckman is facing a potential ban after making high contact on Melbourne star Tom Sparrow, which knocked the Demons Midfielder out cold. The AFL 's concussion protocols will now be in the spotlight once again, as Melbourne ended a five-game losing streak with an 18.11 (119) to 12.11 (83) victory at the MCG on Sunday. Sparrow had recovered the ball off the top of a hit-out by Xerri. But as he moved to dispose the footy to a team-mate, the North Melbourne ruckman raised his forearm and caught Sparrow in the head. Worrying scenes unfolded as the 25-year-old lifelessly dropped to the floor, with doctors immediately running on to provide medical attention. His Melbourne team-mates were furious about Xerri's act, with captain Max Gawn immediately turning to remonstrate with Xerri, with a brawl ensuing. 'Once I saw my team-mate down, I had to respond,' Gawn told Fox Footy after the incident. If no intent here from Tristan Xerri on Tom Sparrow, the key question becomes: Is it careless? If it is, he misses at least three matches due to Sparrow's concussion. @FOXFOOTY — David Zita (@DavidZita1) July 13, 2025 Tristan Xerri (No 38) is facing a potential ban after he appeared to strike Melbourne's Tom Sparrow in the face, knocking the Demon's star out 'I thought it was high,' he added. 'I haven't seen any vision of it since. Xerri, I know as a ruck, he's following up [from a ruck contest] as hard as he can, and he's the best in the comp at doing it, so there's definitely an element of that.' After the sickening collision, Sparrow remained on the field for some time, before being taken into the medical rooms on a stretcher. Promisingly, the footy star did give a thumbs-up to the crowd as he was removed from the pitch. Several stars from the footy world were critical of Xerri's act, including Cameron Mooney. 'That's reckless... he'll get some time [suspension] for that,' Mooney said. I don't think it was anything untoward for it, but he's got it wrong. 'If the ball's there, your natural reaction is to flick an arm or hand at it. 'I think that's what he's tried to do but he's just missed it and got him high.' North boss Alastair Clarkson defended Xerri's actions following the match. 'It's unfortunate,' he said. 'The collision comes down from a ruck contest and it's pretty hard to go for, it's hard to compete in the ruck against big Max to compete in a tackle within a split second. 'It's unfortunate for Tom but injuries happen... We had LD [Luke Davies-Uniacke] knocked out last week with an elbow to the head. 'Just swings and roundabouts. When it's a competitive game of footy and there's a lot of numbers around the ball, sometimes accidents like that are going to happen.' Clarkson then admitted that he hadn't seen Xerri after the match, but added: 'Our view is that there was every intent on Big X trying to lay the tackle and just didn't have enough time to lay it in the correct manner.' Clarkson re-emphasised that Xerri had 'very little time' to prepare for the collision. 'We are all disappointed when any player gets injured, but it's the game. There is always unfortunate things like that that happen and it's just the result of 18 bulls going at each other. While the incident marred the win for Melbourne, in-form veteran Jake Melksham kicked an equal career-best five goals to seal the 36-point win. Melksham and Christian Petracca (31 disposals, one goal) were both standouts in what was Melbourne's first win since beating Sydney at the MCG on May 25. The Demons (6-11) now sit 13th, while North (4-12-1) are third-from-bottom. Melksham also looked in trouble after high contact from North defender Wil Dawson left him nursing a sore head and shoulder before half-time. But the 33-year-old passed a head injury assessment and added four goals after half-time as the Demons resisted a Cam Zurhaar-led surge by the Kangaroos. Zurhaar kicked three goals in the third quarter, dragging the Kangaroos within three points before Melbourne steadied and finished full of running. Christian Salem (25 touches), Harvey Langford (24) and Clayton Oliver (21) were influential in a largely scrappy affair, while Bayley Fritsch kicked three goals. The final margin made for a 95-point turnaround from the last time the teams met, when the Kangaroos were comprehensive winners in round two. North were well-served by Colby McKercher (29 disposals), Harry Sheezel (29) and returning veteran Luke Parker (27). Cooper Harvey, son of club legend Brent, kicked four goals and Jack Darling matched Zurhaar's contribution with three.
News.com.au
11-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
AFL star Max Gawn throws his weight to help struggling Aussies
An AFL superstar has thrown his weight behind a worthy cause that attempts to help feed families in need. Melbourne Football Club's captain Max Gawn has partnered with Red Tractor, Aldi and Foodbank to promote the 'Buy One, Give One' campaign. Essentially, every 1.6kg bag of Red Tractor oats – which retails for $6.50 – sold from July 2 at Aldi will see a bag of the same size donated to Foodbank. Each donated pack of oats creates up to 40 meals for families in need — with a goal to create three million breakfasts through this campaign, which runs while stocks last. Gawn kicked off the initiative at Foodbank's distribution centre in Victoria. 'As an athlete, I know how important a good brekkie is to set you up for the day. But millions of Aussies are going without that basic start,' he said. 'When you grab your Red Tractor oats during this campaign, you're not just feeding your family, you're feeding another family too. It's such a simple way to make a huge impact for Aussies doing it tough this winter.' Foodbank's 2024 Hunger Report highlighted that low income households are at breaking point, and one in five median income households earning less than $95,000 a year are food insecure. Around 60 per cent of food insecure households in Australia are experiencing it at a severe level. This means they regularly skip meals or go entire days without food. 'Every day we see Australians choosing between heating and eating. This winter, we're not just asking people to buy oats, we're asking them to be part of the solution,' Andrew Loader, Red Tractor's CEO, said. 'As a proud Australian brand, we see this as our responsibility. Every bag purchased doesn't just support Australian farmers, it directly feeds families who otherwise might go without.' This is the second year the campaign featuring Red Tractor oats and Aldi has run, with three million meals donated last year. Those involved want this year's campaign to have an even stronger impact. Brianna Casey AM, Foodbank Australia's CEO, said: 'We believe everyone deserves to have access to good food and there is nothing more satisfying on a cold winter's morning than a warm bowl of oats to start the day. 'We are incredibly thankful to Red Tractor and ALDI for the generous support they provide Foodbank with this much-needed donation of delicious, nutritious Australian grown oats.'
