“He’s about 50 years old”: Melbourne champion continue to defy odds as claims for GOAT status ring true

The AFL world is still in "awe" of what Melbourne captain Max Gawn is achieving.

Gawn has just about achieved everything you can in football. A premiership medallion. Seven All-Australian blazers. AFLCA Player of the Year. Two best and fairests. And captain.

But his reign as the competition's best ruckman continues to ring true, being selected in seven of the past nine best 22s, leaving very little room for any rivals to claim the crown.

2025-05-03T09:35:00Z

Melbourne WON BY 32 POINTS

Optus Stadium

WCE

76

FT

108

MELB

#AFLEaglesDees

MATCH CENTRE ▶︎

On Saturday against West Coast, Gawn was up to his usual best, and a case could be made he exceeded his own lofty standards.

The 33-year-old gathered a game-high 35 disposals, nine clearances, eight marks, five inside 50s, 47 hit-outs (12 to advantage), 12 score involvements and a goal, all but locking him in for three Brownlow votes in September.

"I said last week, you're probably watching the greatest of all time," Demons coach Simon Goodwin said.

"We're in awe of the big fella, the way he goes about his work. He's had to work hard this season to get his form that he's in currently.

"And he's such a great leader of our footy club. He's driving a lot of what we want, after being 0-5. He said, enough's enough, and he's driving the right things internally."

West Coast coach Andrew McQualter, who spent the 2024 season in the four walls at Melbourne, also couldn't deny the influence Gawn has.

"I don't want to undersell Max's game because it was an extraordinary game of football," McQualter said.

"Max, in my opinion, is the best ruckman of all time. He's an extraordinary player. He's about 50 years old now.

"He's going to be doing it for a few more years."

Gawn's form in the early part of the season has mirrored that of Melbourne's, whose sluggish 0-5 start has been turned around in the past three weeks, with wins over Fremantle, Richmond and the Eagles.

2025-05-10T03:20:00Z

Hawthorn WON BY 35 POINTS

MCG

MELB

56

FT

91

HAW

#AFLDeesHawks

MATCH CENTRE ▶︎

Gawn is contracted until the end of 2027, and in his current form, is in line to receive a record-equalling eighth All-Australian nod, joining the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Lance Franklin, Mark Ricciuto, Robert Harvey and Gary Ablett Jr.