Melbourne captain Max Gawn feared he had suffered a 3rd ACL harm on Friday night time that might have threatened the remainder of his AFL profession.
The Demons ruckman harm his left knee early within the loss to Brisbane on the Gabba and instantly afterwards, the analysis was unclear within the changerooms.
“The word ‘ACL’ had been floated around, so for someone who’s done two and the people in the rooms couldn’t tell me if I had or hadn’t done it in terms of how my knee was presenting – the worst-case scenario does go (through) your mind,” Gawn mentioned on Monday.
“I’m 31, I’m sort-of getting towards the twilight and to do a third knee would have been pretty devastating for my own career.
“I used to be fairly upset for a bit … the vulnerability to cry, I had somewhat tear within the changeroom.
“It was a big moment that got put on me in round two, at a time when you’re not expecting that news.”
By the next afternoon, Melbourne have been capable of verify that Gawn had sprained his medial collateral ligament and would solely be out for about 4 weeks.
Another ACL rupture would have ended his season.
“I did get some really good news in terms of scans, but how we interpret those scans … is still to come,” Gawn mentioned.
“I’m pretty bullish about a return date.”
Gawn was additionally bullish about fellow ruckman Brodie Grundy, who now could be Melbourne’s No.1 ruckman till he returns.
Grundy was recruited from Collingwood within the low season after being injured for many of 2022 and Gawn was rapt with how he stepped up towards Lions opponents Oscar McInerney and Darcy Fort.
“We needed him on Friday night, that’s for sure … when I went down in the first five minutes it was always going to be a daunting task,” Gawn mentioned.
“He did a tremendous job. Who knows how long I’m out for – I still don’t know, I haven’t been into the club yet.”
Gawn may see the humorous facet on Monday morning as he fronted a media convention to advertise Sunday’s Round for Reach charity recreation towards Sydney on the SCG.
He handed over a membership cheque for $25,000 to the Reach Foundation, co-founded by late Melbourne nice Jim Stynes.
Friday’s recreation was held up for a number of minutes when the facility went out.
“I wanted the game to be over as quickly as possible and it ended up being the longest game in history,” Gawn mentioned.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
