Melbourne captain Max Gawn could be left questioning his future at the club after the shock dismissal of coach Simon Goodwin, the man he once called “a father figure”.
Two-time Norm Smith medallist Luke Hodge believes the champion ruckman will be “a broken man” in the wake of the decision, given the bond the pair shared and the role Goodwin played in guiding him through personal struggles.
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Speaking on SEN, Hodge said the fallout could be far-reaching for the Demons.
“A door opening for Max Gawn?”
“From the outside, he (Gawn) will be a broken man because of the time and effort he has put into what has been created,” Hodge said. “From afar, their relationship looked a strong coach-captain relationship. There’s going to be murmurs and tough conversations, and his mindset now will be, ‘Am I going to have a relationship with the next coach coming in, will I be able to lead as I am?'”
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Hodge suggested that a change in leadership could prompt Gawn to explore options he might never have previously considered.
“Is this a door opening for Max Gawn? He would have had no thought of ever leaving Melbourne. They guided him as a young fella into this absolute star of our game. With a new coach coming in, is this his time to say, ‘Is there a premiership somewhere else for me to go and play?’”
“It won’t be an easy decision for him,” Hodge added, “but he has to talk to the club who will want to keep him.”