Gawn missing from Demons' AFL training
Melbourne say there's no cloud over Max Gawn for their AFL preliminary final with West Coast despite the ruckman missing training.
The towering All-Australian and outside Brownlow Medal shot was an obvious absentee from the club's runabout at Goschs Paddock on Monday.
The Demons were quick to shoot down any suggestion of an injury, saying their ruck simply trained indoors and would feature in Wednesday's main session.
Unless the club is hiding a major ailment, Gawn's record of getting up for matches this season suggests he's a certainty to travel west for Saturday's clash in Perth.
The 26-year-old has been a warrior in 2018 for the Demons, playing every match and establishing himself as the game's pre-eminent tapper.
He battled a minor calf complaint last month and sat out training at least once but didn't miss any football.
That said, Gawn wasn't among Melbourne's best in their semi-final win over Hawthorn after being neutralised well by opposing ruck Ben McEvoy.
In-form defender Neville Jetta and runner Alex Neal-Bullen were also absent from the hour-long run-out after being restricted to gym duties.
Melbourne also said the pair would appear on Wednesday to show their fitness for Saturday.
Captain Jack Viney, having returned from a serious foot issue to play in the club's two stirring finals wins, was restricted to laps in his sneakers.
An absence of serious injuries or suspensions mean Simon Goodwin should be able to maintain the same team for a third straight final at Optus Stadium.
To date, Melbourne have been barracked by pro-Demons crowds at the MCG, out-cheering Hawthorn and Geelong supporters.
That certainly won't be the case in Perth.
The AFL confirmed on Monday just fewer than 3000 tickets had been sold to Melbourne members either based out west or making the trip across the Nullarbor.
Given the venue hosts up to 60,000 fans, the Demons will face a 19:1 deficit in the supporting stakes.
Melbourne defeated the Eagles on their most recent trip to Western Australia, a round 22 victory that mathematically ensured the Demons would play finals football in 2018.
