Former Melbourne assistant coach Craig Jennings rates Max Gawn as the best player in the AFL and one of the most impactful players in recent memory.
Gawn is a three-time All-Australian ruckman and on track for a fourth based on a strong start to the 2020 season.
He won 29 hit-outs in Melbourne’s win over Adelaide on Wednesday night and Jennings believes the 28-year-old once again proved just how damaging he can be.
“Last night was another example of why I think Max Gawn is the best player in the game,” he told SEN’s Whateley.
“His impact on all 21 players on all three lines is just enormous.
“Maybe you have to work with him to know. In my time (Gary) Ablett Snr, (Wayne) Carey and then Max Gawn are the top three for me.
“They ask him to get back in front of the opposition key forward, he’s feeding the midfields, he’s locking the ball inside 50, he’s the target for kick-ins, he does everything.
“He spends an enormous amount of time working on his game and planning for his opponents. Greg Stafford is his ruck coach and they’re pretty inseparable.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Gawn. I think he’s just an amazing person and an amazing player.”
Gawn has taken over as captain of the club this year and Jennings admits he always rated the ruckman as a leader.
“The moment I walked in I thought this is the guy who should be captaining the footy club,” he said.
“He’s just got such a presence and the players follow him.
“What I like about Gawn, he wanted to be the ruckman at Melbourne and then he wanted to be the best ruckman in the game and I remember having a conversation and I said, ‘how about being the best player in the game’, and he’s just that sort of player that sets a goal and is able to achieve it.”