Another Max Gawn masterclass has breathed new life into Melbourne’s spluttering season as the inspirational skipper led his side to a comfortable 20-point win over Richmond at the MCG on Thursday night.
After destroying Fremantle’s Sean Darcy last week, Gawn did a similar job on one of the league’s best rucks in Toby Nankervis this week, helping himself to 25 disposals (13 contested), nine marks (five), 34 hitouts and six clearances to guide the Demons to a 12.11 (83) to 9.9 (63) victory. It’s the first time Melbourne have won back-to-back game in nine months.
FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
The first half was an error-riddled, dour affair which failed to reach any heights and produced four lead changes.
But after Richmond hit the front just after time on in the second quarter, the Demons exploded to kick eight of the next nine goals and shoot 44 points clear in the final quarter to kill off the contest.
Richmond applied cosmetic surgery to the scoreboard late as they capitalised on Gawn spending the last 20 minutes off the ground.
Melbourne were a different team after half-time and came out breathing fire, ramping up the pressure to swiftly beat the Tigers into submission.
The third quarter belonged to the Demons as they smashed Richmond in disposals 127-74, marks 33-17, clearances 14-8, centre clearances 5-2, tackles 28-8, inside 50s 15-7 and contested possessions 45-31 to dramatically transform the complexion of the match.
Melbourne also got their handball game going that worked so well last week against the Dockers, and cut the Tigers open as they streamed forward on the way to registering 6.3 for the term – their best quarter of the season.
In another promising sign for the Demons, during this purple patch, unlike the first five games, they once again made more of an effort to lower their eyes when going forward rather than aimlessly blazing away.
With Richmond defender Noah Balta out of the team due to his court-imposed curfew, after being so crucial to the Tigers’ stunning win over Gold Coast last week, the third-quarter onslaught proved too much for Richmond to cope with.
Christian Petracca was also pivotal to the result with 28 possessions (nine contested), seven marks and two goals, while Ed Langdon produced a big performance too with 28 touches, seven grabs and a major.
Gawn was later named best on ground, winning the Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes Medal.
Spine-tingling ANZAC Eve ceremony | 01:23
THE 3-2-1…
3.‘ONE-MAN WRECKING BALL’: GAWN DOMINATES TIGERS AGAIN
When Max Gawn is on, he’s mighty hard to stop. Perhaps David King put it best, posing the question: “How do you defeat Max Gawn?”
Well, maybe you can’t.
The star ruckman finished with 25 disposals, 34 hit-outs, 12 score involvements and nine marks (five contested) in a real complete performance and a reminder that he’s not going to just hand over the mantle as the No. 1 ruckman in the AFL.
It was no coincidence that the Tigers went on a late run in the fourth quarter when Gawn was on the bench.
“You have to change so much of what you want to do as a team to go around him or try to rove around his tapwork. He’s just a one-man wrecking machine,” King said.
“What a player, what a star of our competition. It’s worth coming just to watch Max and how hard he works forward of the ball and behind the ball. Everything the team needs … jeez he’s been a force.”
Gawn had a look in his eye early in Thursday night’s match and was dominant from the first bounce, with several key marks around the ground to stop any Richmond chains in their tracks.
It’s a matchup Gawn has good recent history in, polling three Brownlow votes in his last two meeting with the Tigers.
You’d think he’ll poll another three tonight.
The Demons skipper’s hot start forced Richmond to adjust its approach, with Tigers players body checking Gawn off the ball to stop him from getting clear runs at the footy.
“You can see Richmond at all costs do not want to let Max Gawn have a free run at the ball,” Tigers champion Jack Riewoldt said.
King added: “It’s off ball, it’s everywhere, it’s post clearance when Max is trying to get onto a searching run. They’re checking him. Good team play, we’ve it before, we’ve seen Port Adelaide do it.”
2. THIRD-QUARTER BLITZ IGNITES WIN AS MELBOURNE FIND ‘DIFFERENT’ MODES
Melbourne’s third quarter was the difference in the end in a dominant six goal to one blitz Richmond had no answers for.
It all started in the middle after the Demons were uncharacteristically beaten by the Tigers in the first half and relied more on their turnover game.
But in the third term Simon Goodwin’s side turned that around, controlling clearances (11-7) to get territory and repeat inside 50s, utilising a forward handball game to overwhelm Richmond.
The Dees’ pressure was also enormous, with intense heat on the ball and a pressure rating up above 230 for most of the quarter – well up on the AFL average of 175.
“Clearly there’s been a discussion at half-time from the coach around how the midfield had to lift and get some clearances … they’ve responded,” Kangaroos legend David King said on Fox Footy during the third quarter.
“Once they’ve got it in they’ve locked it in, the pressure has been enormous – 230 is ridiculous.”
“It’s a powerful quarter of footy, 5.1 – four of those from clearance. Haven’t had a quarter like that this season.
King also praised Melbourne for showing off an ability to play different modes instead of the defence and contest style it’s been synonymous for under Simon Goodwin.
“I think it’s different, this handball game has changed Melbourne. They’re run and gun now and reward each other when they turn up,” King said.
The Roos legend also loved the way Demons players celebrated with each other and honoured little moments.
“I like the way they’ve celebrated tonight with each other, rewarded good solid efforts from their efforts. High fives and the odd kissing going around,” King said.
Tigers champion Jack Riewoldt praised the response from Melbourne’s star midfield, led by Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney.
“There was questions around their midfield … they’ve all started to find some form again.
“A positive is Melbourne is starting to discover their DNA again. They look like a side that can push up the ladder.”
1. MASSIVE ‘VINEY’ IGNITES DEES IN TARANTO BATTLE
Speaking of that midfield, one man who can hold his head high is Jack Viney.
The inside bull has been widely critised in 2025 amid calls for Simon Goodwin to shake up his midfield mix – and what’s worked in the best – and remove Viney from the on-ball brigade.
But on Thursday night Viney well beat Tim Taranto in their matchup, with his defensive pressure (15 tackles to one) the difference between the players.
In fairness to Taranto, he had more disposals (22 to 19) and hit the scoreboard (two goals to none), but Viney’s ferocity in the third quarter really lifted Melbourne and helped it charge past the Tigers.
“It’s been a great matchup ton watch because both are so competitive around the footy,” Western Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson said on Fox Footy at three-quarter time.
“The tackles are the one, 13 to Viney and only 1 to Taranto. He needs to get busy in that part of it.
“Viney had a massive third quarter, six tackles and a couple of inside 50s.”
Follow Melbourne v Richmond in our live blog below!
Discussion about this post