MAX Gawn says the bonds he forms with teammates shape him as a leader he is today.

The ruckman, who has been part of Melbourne’s leadership group since 2016, said being a “median age” allows him to build a relationship with all 44 players.


Max Gawn looks on during a tough session on Monday (Photo: Matthew Goodrope)

“We’ve got a couple of older guys, a couple of younger guys and I feel like I’m probably in the middle, so I’ve got a good connection with a lot of people,” Gawn told melbournefc.com.au.

“That’s probably my strength – being a relationship-type leader.”

A vocal figure within the group, Gawn gives prominence to mutual respect, on and off the field.

With togetherness at the core of this week’s pre-season camp in Queensland, Gawn has had chance to develop his rapport even more this week.

Group sessions, team activities and the chance to interact away from training have allowed for closer team bonding, which Gawn is embracing.

“It’s been good to get away with the team and find out a lot more about some teammates,” he said.

“Some guys I’ve only known for two months, and some guys like Jonesy (co-captain Nathan Jones) I’ve known for nine years – and I’m still finding out new stuff about him.

“That’s what camps like this are for.”

The stay in Maroochydore has so far consisted of one main training – with two more to come on Friday and Monday – as well as rotating sessions of craft, weights and boxing.

Despite the Sunshine State’s rainy and slightly cooler conditions on Thursday, Gawn says training in the heat and humidity is of great benefit.

“We play up in Darwin, Perth and Brisbane, so it’s getting used to conditions like that,” he said.

“We’re training tomorrow (Friday) in potentially torrential rain, which adds a different element, but anything that’s not Melbourne weather I see a value in.”

Shown to assist with conditioning, the physically demanding sessions are a focal point of the camp, and sees players varying in weight after each one.

This doesn’t phase Gawn, who is now comfortable with where he’s sitting on the scales, after conceding he went too far in losing eight kilos during the off-season.

“I was pretty skinny when I first got back, and I’ve slowly introduced some foods and I’m doing a lot of weights, so I’ve got back to a normal weight,” he said.

“I’m still not as heavy as I was last year, but I feel I’m at a good weight to compete this year.”

Meanwhile, the pre-season continues to showcase players who have progressed over summer.

Despite several players impressing Gawn, one in particular caught his eye.

“Tom Bugg has probably had the standout pre-season for mine,” he said.

The 24-year-old is coming back with a point to prove, after missing six matches in the latter part of the season due to suspension.  

Having played 28 games with Melbourne since arriving at the end of 2015 – he played 65 matches for GWS – Bugg will be looking to add to his tally in 2018.

And the forward’s victory in last month’s two-km time-trial was a good sign for Gawn.

“Tom McDonald hasn’t been beaten in the two-km run for nine years, so that’s a good example of someone working hard over the break,” he said.