Melbourne captain Max Gawn has apologised after a flippant radio comment last week fuelled speculation that Luke Jackson could return to the Demons from Fremantle.
Speaking on Triple M, Gawn had suggested that many young players who return home to Western Australia eventually consider a move back east, adding, “not mentioning one that potentially could be coming back soon.”
While he didn’t name Jackson directly, the remark lit up chatter around a potential reunion with the 2021 premiership ruck.
On Monday, Gawn backtracked.
'It wasn’t my intention'
“I will clear it up. I certainly don’t like myself speculating about other people who are contracted, I think that’s stupid,” Gawn said on Triple M.
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“I apologise if that was how it came across, it wasn’t my intention. My intention was to have a little laugh. I appreciate that Luke has said that he’s staying.”
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir addressed the noise over the weekend, saying Jackson had been “a bit confused” about where the speculation even began. Jackson, 23, still has four years to run on the seven-year deal he signed with the Dockers after leaving Melbourne at the end of 2022.
As the Dockers navigate how best to manage their dual-ruck setup with Jackson and Sean Darcy, Gawn admitted that playing two rucks is a complex challenge and referenced his own failed partnership with Brodie Grundy at Melbourne.
“We butchered two rucks,” Gawn said. “It probably hasn’t worked this year with two rucks (for Fremantle), but Sean and Luke have been a good ruck combination in the last two years.”