Melbourne captain and star ruckman Max Gawn will carry an injury into this Friday night’s Semi Final against Carlton.
Gawn has a broken bone in one of his toes in the wake of last Thursday night’s seven-point Qualifying Final loss to Collingwood.
SEN’s Sam Edmund has reported that Gawn, who was his side’s best player last week, has suffered a break in one of his middle toes.
“Max Gawn, the superstar All-Australian ruckman, will attempt to take on Carlton this Friday night in a cut-throat Semi Final with a broken bone in his toe,” Edmund said on SEN Breakfast.
“All sorts of rumours about hairline fractures in the foot and plantar fascia and whatnot, they’ve been swirling since Friday.
“But he’s definitely dealing with a broken bone in one of his toes. Without getting too technical, it’s near where the toe joins the main part of the foot.
“He couldn’t have done much more against Collingwood, he was immense.
“I don’t know (when it happened), all I know is that it’s happened and he’s dealing with it at the moment.
“He’s definitely got a break in a toe on his foot. It is one of the middle ones, it’s not the big toe or the small toe.”
MAX Gawn will attempt to take on Carlton in a cut-throat semi-final on Friday night with a broken bone in his toe. The break is near where the toe joins the foot. Clayton Oliver dealing with knee soreness, but both are expected to face the Blues.
— Sam Edmund (@Sammy__Edmund) September 11, 2023
Despite the issue, Edmund is fully expecting Gawn to play against the Blues at the MCG, likewise midfielder Clayton Oliver who is nursing a knock to the knee.
“I think that is the more likely outcome (that Gawn plays),” Edmund said.
“Clayton Oliver is dealing with knee soreness, has been for a couple of weeks.
“Neither Gawn nor Oliver have trained much since Thursday night. I’m not sure either are in any danger of missing this game, I think they’ll play even if it is under some duress.”
The Demons will be without young forward Jacob Van Rooyen who has copped a one-match ban for a head-high hit on Dan McStay. Angus Brayshaw will also miss after he was concussed by Brayden Maynard.
The Dees meet the Blues at 7:50pm this Friday night.
BREAKING | Sam Edmund reports that Max Gawn has a broken bone in his toe.
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) September 11, 2023
News update thanks to @cobramestate@SENBreakfast | #AFL pic.twitter.com/irCsTIQcJG