Melbourne captain Max Gawn completely dominated in his side’s 50-point win over Hawthorn on Sunday.
The Demons ruckman picked up 26 disposals and had 24 hitouts to go with 10 marks (eight contested), 451 metres gained, seven score involvements, five clearances and five inside 50s to emphatically win his duel with Hawks skipper Ben McEvoy.
While Gawn has long been considered one of the top few big men in the competition, performances like that truly set him apart from his ruck peers Brodie Grundy and Nic Naitanui.
Former Demons captain Garry Lyon was full of praise for Gawn’s display, rating it as good a ruck performance as you’re likely to see.
“Ruckmen don’t play one on one, they haven’t for a long time,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“Ben McEvoy got the mother of all hidings yesterday. He had a period where he took two really good marks and I thought the challenge was on against Max Gawn.
“But it was as dominant a ruck performance as you could hope to see.”
Kane Cornes is on board with Lyon, describing Gawn as “the number one ruck in the game by a mile” after what he produced on the weekend.
“There’s three standout rucks but he’s just elevated himself to one by a fair way,” he said of the 29-year-old.
“When you watch Brodie Grundy and Nic Naitanui and what he does all over the ground (stands out). Because he has prepared himself so well physically, his aerobic ability sets him apart from the rest.
“Just look at him and the way that he’s prepared. Compare him to the work that influences with Naitanui around the ground.
“Number one ruck in the game by a mile and what a captain he’s turning out to be.”
The supreme output of the two-time Bluey Truscott Medallist has not restricted the development of no.3 draft pick Luke Jackson who has been able to flourish by mixing his time as a forward and in a secondary ruck role.
“It’s the perfect model for me, a young ruckman with an experienced ruckman,” Cornes added.
“We saw what it’s done for Tim English with Stefan Martin coming in (at the Western Bulldogs).
“That is ideal if you can have Jackson develop under Gawn without the responsibility of going into the centre bounce 15 times a game, it’s terrific.”
Gawn is averaging career highs in disposals (20.6), marks (6.8), clearances (5) and rebounds 50s (3.4) in 2021, proving he has taken his game to the next level in other areas.
The form of the four-time All-Australian has the Dees sitting pretty in second position with a 5-0 record as they look ahead to the mouthwatering Anzac Day eve clash with reigning premiers Richmond at the MCG on Saturday night.
Gawn is TopSport's Best of the Best for Round 5.
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