Max Gawn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Max Gawn |
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Gawn playing for Melbourne in April 2025
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Max Gawn | ||
| Date of birth | 30 December 1991 | ||
| Original team | Sandringham Dragons (TAC Cup) | ||
| Draft | No. 34, 2009 national draft | ||
| Debut | Round 11, 2011, Melbourne v. Essendon, at MCG |
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| Position(s) | Ruck | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Melbourne | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Max Gawn, born on December 30, 1991, is a professional Australian rules footballer. He plays for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Max is a ruckman, standing 209 cm tall and weighing 111 kg. He can play both in the ruck and in the forward line.
Before playing Australian rules football, Max enjoyed basketball and rugby union. He was drafted by the Melbourne Football Club in the 2009 AFL draft. Max made his AFL debut in the 2011 AFL season. Early in his career, he faced some knee and hamstring injuries. By 2015, he became Melbourne's main ruckman. He was also chosen for the 2016 All-Australian team.
Max became Melbourne's captain at the start of the 2020 AFL season. In 2021, he led the club to win its first championship since 1964. This was a huge moment for the team and its fans.
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Max's Early Life and Sports
Max Gawn was born in Australia. His parents, Sandra and Robert, were from New Zealand. They moved to Greymouth, New Zealand, when Max was three. A few years later, his family settled permanently in Melbourne, Australia.
Max played rugby union when he was young. He was in the Under-10s team for Powerhouse RUFC. He also played basketball as a junior. However, Australian rules football was always his favorite sport. He went to McKinnon Secondary College. He played his junior football with the Ormond Football Club.
In 2009, Max played for the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup. He played only three games that year. He then tore his ACL (a knee injury) during a match. This injury meant he missed the rest of the 2009 season.
Max's AFL Journey
Starting His Career (2010–2013)
The Melbourne Football Club picked Max Gawn in the 2009 AFL draft. He was the 34th player chosen overall. At the time, he was one of the tallest players in the league. After his knee surgery in 2009, he missed most of the 2010 season. He played a few games for Melbourne's partner team, the Casey Scorpions, in the VFL Development League.
Max played well for Casey in 2011. He then made his AFL debut in Round 11 against Essendon. Melbourne won that game by 33 points. Max played mostly as a forward in his first game. He received his number 37 jumper from Jim Stynes, a famous Melbourne player. Max played only four games in his first AFL season.
In 2012, Max had another knee injury. This meant he missed the entire 2012 season. He also had a slow start to the 2013 season due to a hamstring injury. He played his first AFL game in 18 months in Round 4, 2013. He helped Melbourne win against Greater Western Sydney by kicking two goals. He played 13 games that season.
Becoming a Star Player (2014–2016)
In 2014, Max also coached a junior team at his old club, Ormond Football Club. He also started a carpentry business with some teammates. Max played his first AFL game of 2014 in Round 9. He helped Melbourne win against Richmond. Later that year, he set a new record for hitouts in a VFL game. He finished the 2014 AFL season with nine games. He had another knee surgery at the end of the year. After the season, he changed his jumper number from 37 to 11. This was the same number worn by Jim Stynes.
Max started the 2015 VFL season playing in the VFL. He played his first AFL game of 2015 in Round 10 against Collingwood. In his third game, he helped Melbourne beat Geelong in Geelong. This was Melbourne's first win there since 2005. Max had 44 hitouts and 19 disposals in that game. He was praised for his great performance. He played 13 games that season and was called the most improved ruckman.
In 2016, Max was added to Melbourne's leadership group. In Round 3, he played against Todd Goldstein, another top ruckman. Max had 63 hitouts in that game, which was a very high number. Many people started to wonder if Max was the best ruckman in the league. In the Queen's Birthday game, Max was named the best player on the ground. He had 27 disposals and kicked three goals.
Max's ability to kick goals and take strong marks also impressed everyone. He continued his great form throughout the season. He finished the season with the most hitouts in the league (928). He also broke the record for most hitouts to advantage. Max played every game in 2016.
His amazing season was rewarded with selection in the 2016 All-Australian team. He was named the best ruckman in the league. He also finished third in Melbourne's best and fairest award. Max was recognized as one of the best players by his fellow players. He also received 16 votes in the Brownlow Medal, the most for a ruckman.
Overcoming Challenges (2017–2019)
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After his All-Australian year in 2016, people had high hopes for Max. He was expected to play even better. He was also kept in Melbourne's leadership group for 2017. In the first game of 2017, Max had 49 hitouts. He helped Melbourne win by 30 points.
However, Max got a serious hamstring injury in Round 3. This injury needed surgery. He missed ten weeks of football. He returned to play in Round 14. After coming back from injury, Max found it hard to get back to his best form. He admitted he was not as fast as before. His ruck technique was also questioned by umpires. He had to change how he played to avoid giving away free kicks. Max played 13 games in 2017. He signed a contract to stay with the club until 2021.
Max played every game in 2018, including three finals. He played 25 matches that season. His great year was rewarded with his first club best and fairest award, the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy. He won this award again in 2019, making it two in a row.
Captain and Premiership Winner (2020–2023)
Max Gawn was made captain of the Melbourne Football Club before the 2020 AFL season. In 2020, the Demons just missed out on playing in the finals.
The 2021 season started very well for Max and the Demons. They won their first nine games. They stayed at the top of the ladder for most of the season. Before the finals, Melbourne needed to beat Geelong at their home ground. Max led a great comeback after they were seven goals down. He took a mark and kicked a goal after the siren. This gave Melbourne the minor premiership for the first time since 1964.
After this big win, Max played against Geelong again in the preliminary final. He had a career-best game, kicking five goals. On September 25, 2021, Max captained Melbourne to its first AFL premiership in 57 years. The Grand Final win was a huge moment. Max's leadership and ruck skills were key to the Demons' big 74-point victory. He was named the All-Australian captain for 2021.
Recent Seasons (2024–Present)
The Melbourne captain had another successful year in 2024. Even though his club did not make the finals, Max was named in the All-Australian team for the seventh time. This is the most by any ruckman in history. It is also the most by any Melbourne player.
Max returned to his best form in 2025. He won his second Frank 'Checker' Hughes Medal against Richmond. He also had a personal-best 35 disposals against West Coast the next week. This showed he was still one of the best ruckmen in the competition. People have started talking about Max Gawn as one of the greatest AFL ruckmen of all time.
Honours and Achievements
Team Awards
- AFL Premiership Player (Melbourne): 2021 (as captain)
- AFL Minor Premiership: 2021
- McClelland Trophy (Melbourne): 2021 (as captain), 2023
Individual Awards
- AFL Premiership Captain: 2021
- 2× Frank 'Checker' Hughes Medal: 2024, 2025
- Melbourne Captain: 2020–
- AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award: 2018
- 7× All-Australian team: 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 (c), 2022, 2024
- 2× Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy: 2018, 2019
- Neale Daniher Trophy: 2016
