Cornes and King's concern over Dees' Gawn dependence

Max Gawn has been crucial for Melbourne for over a decade, but with a reported contract extension on the way, Kane Cornes fears for his longevity beyond next season.

Clearly playing at superstar calibre, Gawn has showed no signs of slowing down.

At 34 years of age, the ruckman amassed a record ninth All-Australian blazer, cementing his name as the sole record holder for most selections in All-Australian history.

Saturday night was no different to his immense 2026 form.

Despite the loss to Carlton, Gawn certainly held his own. With 18 disposals, 31 hitouts, six clearances and a goal, he was comfortably one of the Demons’ best.

And given his continued form, Tom Morris has reported that the Melbourne captain will be rewarded with a new deal.

“Max Gawn, who is contracted until the end of next year, the people I speak to say that there could be a new deal over summer, to extend into 2028,” Morris told SEN Fireball.

“It would be a one-year extension. He would be on unders. I would be surprised if in 2028 he would be paid $1 million.”

However, while Gawn continues to perform at a superstar level, Cornes can’t help but feel concerned about his longevity given the Dees’ excessive dependence on their main man.

Against the Blues, Max Gawn played out 92 per cent of game time, the highest of any centre bounce player and fourth most game time across both teams.

For reference, opposition ruckman Mark Pittonet managed just 78 per cent, with Sam Walsh (80 per cent) presenting as the only other centre bounce player amassing 80 or more.

This isn’t necessarily a once off for Gawn; on the season, the 34-year-old averaged 83.7 per cent game time over his 24 games, the most of any ruckman across the AFL and fourth of any centre bounce players behind only Nick Daicos (85.6), Noah Anderson (85.3), Bailey Smith (84.3) and Marcus Bontempelli (84.0).

Only 24-year-old Ned Moyle (80.0) averaged 80 or more as a pure ruckman.

“I take my hat off to Max,” David King told SEN Fireball.

“I think he stayed out on the ground, played the whole first quarter and the first 15 minutes of the second.

“I just think he knew the importance of getting this group off to a start.”

Cornes added: “He spent 10 minutes on the bench for the game.”

King: “105 minutes he finished up with, and I don’t mind that.”

Cornes: “Nor do I, but what’s the plan there?

“Do you go into the game thinking, ‘we’re going to absolutely cook him?’

“They have to win five games to win the premiership, and their thoughts were to just destroy their 34-year-old, who was essentially getting tagged.”

King: “He’s done it regularly.”

Cornes: “I understand, but this is finals footy and you’ve got to win five of them.

“You’re just going to cook him. It was an error, because he was gassed.”

King: “Was he gassed? I just think the tide turned and he knew what was happening late.

“He got them off to a start; they did kick the first four.”

Cornes: “What’s the plan for life after Max?”

King: “It’s very hard to plan for life after champions, Hall of Famers. There’s generally not a lot of upside in life after Hall of Famers.”

Cornes: “Collingwood have lived it a little bit with Scott Pendlebury.

“Can Max keep going for three years? Of course he can, but you can’t be destroying him.”

As it stands, Gawn is contracted until the end of 2027. An extension would see him play through 2028, within which the superstar will turn 36.