COACH Dean Bailey has praised the performances of Max Gawn, Jeremy Howe and Daniel Nicholson, who each played their third AFL match in Melbourne’s 89-point win over Fremantle at the MCG on Sunday.
Bailey said the trio took further steps in their emerging AFL careers, making important contributions in Melbourne’s fifth win for the season.
“Young Nicho has been on the verge of playing particularly well and he got some good game-time today. He was very good,” Bailey said of the dashing Nicholson who had 21 touches.
“He’s a very, very determined young man [and wants] to play as much AFL footy as he can, so he’s a very easy player to coach.
“He’s just one of our elite trainers, so I take my hat off to him - he’s a great young man. Hopefully, he’ll have a really long future with us.”
Bailey said Howe, who took a game-high 12 marks, was lapping up every moment of his new career, after being drafted from Tasmania last year.
“He’s got a good pair of hands and he’s very quick and he kicks both feet,” he said.
“He’s a young man who has played just his third game, so he’s still on the adrenaline at the moment of just playing.
“He’s a natural player and like Nicholson, he works really hard at his game.”
As for ruckman Gawn, who finished with 22 hit outs and impressed at one stage with a fine tackle, Bailey said the competition’s second tallest player was not your average footballer.
“He’s an unusual beast Maxy. He’s 19 and 208cm and he’s playing AFL footy,” he said.
“He’s agile and he’s got a very good footy brain and to see the tackle [he laid] was terrific. That’s him - his second and third efforts have been great.
Bailey said the knee injury to Mark Jamar had allowed Stef Martin to flourish and give Gawn a taste of the big time.
“Again, because of Russian’s (Jamar) departure in the past six weeks, it’s given us a chance to get experience into Max. I think that’s the exciting thing,” he said.
“[The Melbourne supporters] would’ve walked away thinking: ‘gee, it’s good to see a big man, not only hit the ball well, but a big man who tackles and chases’.
“I think Maxy has impressed all … Max was good today.”
But with Bailey saying Jamar is likely to come back next round, where will Gawn fit in the mix?
“I’ll play him at full back,” Bailey said dryly.
“He (Jamar) should be OK next week.
“There is no doubt that Russian has seen these two blokes (Martin and Gawn) play well - he keeps an eye on them.”
But for Melbourne and its match committee, Martin’s fine form and the emergence of Gawn has only added to Melbourne’s depth.
Bailey said the trio took further steps in their emerging AFL careers, making important contributions in Melbourne’s fifth win for the season.
“Young Nicho has been on the verge of playing particularly well and he got some good game-time today. He was very good,” Bailey said of the dashing Nicholson who had 21 touches.
“He’s a very, very determined young man [and wants] to play as much AFL footy as he can, so he’s a very easy player to coach.
“He’s just one of our elite trainers, so I take my hat off to him - he’s a great young man. Hopefully, he’ll have a really long future with us.”
Bailey said Howe, who took a game-high 12 marks, was lapping up every moment of his new career, after being drafted from Tasmania last year.
“He’s got a good pair of hands and he’s very quick and he kicks both feet,” he said.
“He’s a young man who has played just his third game, so he’s still on the adrenaline at the moment of just playing.
“He’s a natural player and like Nicholson, he works really hard at his game.”
As for ruckman Gawn, who finished with 22 hit outs and impressed at one stage with a fine tackle, Bailey said the competition’s second tallest player was not your average footballer.
“He’s an unusual beast Maxy. He’s 19 and 208cm and he’s playing AFL footy,” he said.
“He’s agile and he’s got a very good footy brain and to see the tackle [he laid] was terrific. That’s him - his second and third efforts have been great.
Bailey said the knee injury to Mark Jamar had allowed Stef Martin to flourish and give Gawn a taste of the big time.
“Again, because of Russian’s (Jamar) departure in the past six weeks, it’s given us a chance to get experience into Max. I think that’s the exciting thing,” he said.
“[The Melbourne supporters] would’ve walked away thinking: ‘gee, it’s good to see a big man, not only hit the ball well, but a big man who tackles and chases’.
“I think Maxy has impressed all … Max was good today.”
But with Bailey saying Jamar is likely to come back next round, where will Gawn fit in the mix?
“I’ll play him at full back,” Bailey said dryly.
“He (Jamar) should be OK next week.
“There is no doubt that Russian has seen these two blokes (Martin and Gawn) play well - he keeps an eye on them.”
But for Melbourne and its match committee, Martin’s fine form and the emergence of Gawn has only added to Melbourne’s depth.
