It’s no secret that one of the keys to the Melbourne Demons’ success in the last decade is the form of their talismanic captain and cult hero ruckman Max Gawn.
Ever since his breakout season in 2013, Gawn’s ability to dominate centre clearances and keep the engine room of the Dees firing has been a telling sign in how the 2021 premiers are tracking.
The 7x All-Australian saw a lean start to the year as the Demons struggled to keep pace with the competition, losing their first five outings with Gawn being held to 15 disposals or less in three of those games.
But the Dees' sudden shift that has seen them rocket back towards the top eight, capped off with a stunning 53-point demolition of the Swans on Sunday, has been aided by the resurgent form of their premiership captain.
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From his poor start to the year, Gawn is now tracking well above his average in a number of key metrics to be dominating the conversation of who is the best ruckman in the land, and is well on track to earning another All-Australian nomination this year.
In a clear tactical shift, coach Simon Goodwin has given Gawn more time to settle around the clearances and spend less time forward, with Gawn averaging just 0.2 goals per game in 2025 after averaging at least 0.5 in the past four seasons.
In a sign of his increased confidence in working more closely with key midfielders Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, Gawn has thus far smashed his career average of 6.79 handballs per game, to record 11.64 so far this year.
Similarly, Gawn’s average disposal count is well up on his career average of 16.06 to 21.55, eclipsing even his remarkable 2021 season (18.52) in which Melbourne lifted the premiership.
Left foot snap, straight out of the ruck contest 😮💨 Gawny gets our Sunday started. #DemonSpirit | #AFLDeesSwans pic.twitter.com/QAHYiZeH45
— Narrm Demons (@melbournefc) May 25, 2025
His number of hit-outs per game is also streaking ahead of his usual output, with the ruckman managing to lay hands on the stoppage ball an average of 37.45 times a game so far this season, his best return since 2019.
But while his numbers are exceptional, it’s his performances when it counts that is driving the Dees back up the ladder after a disappointing 14th place finish in 2024.
When Gawn plays well, the Demons win.
In Melbourne’s round 11 win over the Swans, Gawn was the no.1 rated player on the pitch, as he was in their upset win over Brisbane a week earlier, their round 8 victory over the Eagles and their nail-biting win over Freo in round 6.
In round 7 he was eclipsed only by teammate Christian Salem, who recorded a mammoth 34 disposals in their tight win over Richmond.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone watching the way Gawn dominates the field, but it sends a sharp warning to the rest of the competition.
Figure out how to stop Gawn’s influence, or watch victory slide away.