Genuine:Max Gawn in action during the 2021 AFL grand final against the Bulldogs.Credit:Getty Images
His words were consistent with the message the late Jim Stynes,who wore the same No.11 as Gawn,had delivered to the young buck from Ormond to be himself when the beanpole was battling to find himself in a football environment that didn’t seem a natural fit.
And as Gawn proved once again,such ridiculous notions of what decides games of football don’t matter one bit if the preparation,attitude,plan and execution happen in a selfless manner.
That opening bounce won’t be one for the pool room as the ball landed without either Gawn or his opponent,Stefan Martin,a man he made his debut alongside in round 11,2011 when both played for the Demons,touching it.
In fact the spiritual leader of the group,the man who helped the Demons galvanise after a round of golf during the pre-season where they resolved to put the team above individual glory,did not have his best game.
But he played his role to perfection,sacrificing his need to be the hero by handing over the centre square to his heir apparent Luke Jackson when the Demons trailed by 19 points in the third quarter.
He pushed forward and watched Jackson,Christian Petracca,Jack Viney and Clayton Oliver turn the match with four centre square goals in a seven goal blitz.