‘Love, support and care’: Gawn defends Goodwin, opens up on family illness
Melbourne captain Max Gawn says he has no issue with Simon Goodwin after the Demons coach disclosed his star player was dealing with a personal “backstory”, but admits the matter could have been handled differently.
Goodwin raised eyebrows on Sunday after the Demons’ 59-point loss to North Melbourne, revealing that Gawn – for so long the league’s premier ruckman, but, on this occasion, well beaten by Kangaroos’ counterpart Tristan Xerri – had “some stuff in life” he was managing and “people all have backstories”.
“In life, there are other things that are going on,” Goodwin said.
All good: Max Gawn had a rugged afternoon against Tristan Xerri, but says he has no issue with Simon Goodwin.Credit: Getty Images
While it’s rare for coaches to freely disclose such information, Gawn on Tuesday said he had no issue with his coach, and opened up about what he has been dealing with for two years.
“I am OK. There is an illness in the family., it’s been for a while, about 24 months, to be honest. I have put myself in a really good spot throughout that 24 months, to be honest,” Gawn told Triple M.
“I have played some good footy, got some great people at the club, great people in my family, and I have turned up every single day ready to be a captain, a player and have turned up at home ready to be a husband and dad.
“I am in a really good spot, so is the family member, at this point. It did sort of escalate over the last three or four weeks, but it’s back to a steady start now. ”
Goodwin had said throughout the pre-season the Demons would show greater “love” for each other, having endured a tumultuous 2024 campaign where star players Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver considered leaving the club, while president Kate Roffey and chief executive Gary Pert departed.
