King explains how Demons could maximise Gawn’s damage

Dual premiership player David King says sending Max Gawn forward when Melbourne has the ball near goal could be the key to unlock the All-Australian ruckman’s ultimate potential.

Gawn has been a defensive weapon for the Dees in the second half of the year, playing as an intercept player a kick behind the ball. However, King has pondered whether pushing Gawn forward would make him more dangerous.

LYON'S GLOWING PRAISE FOR THE DEMONS

“How do you maximise Max Gawn?” King told SEN’s Whateley.

“Watching that first quarter the other night, inside the forward 50, anytime there is a ball up or boundary throw-in, in the Melbourne forward 50, Max goes behind the ball.

“He goes 60-70m to the opposition goal to basically lock that ball in.

“In the first quarter of Friday night, there were six stoppages inside Melbourne’s forward 50. I want Max in there. I want Max to create the score.

“They didn’t score from any of them, they didn’t score from one of those stoppages.

“Often it’s just the threat of Max in there that can draw a free kick or it just causes a bit of mayhem, a bit of confusion.

“Even on a couple of occasions, despite Max being behind the ball, Hawthorn were able to get through, either go around him or through him.

“He is a ruckman, he is not the most nimble person.

“I just wonder if they look at swapping that player and making that either Tom McDonald, Sam Weideman, and leave Max in the forward 50 for the moment.

“You become the full forward for 10 seconds. Then if the ball does go out and then back in their forward 50, he is still a dominant aerial presence.”

Listen to David King’s chat with Gerard Whateley on SEN’s Whateley in the player below