Max Gawn says Melbourne plan to make MCG a 'fortress' after continuing unbeaten start
Melbourne captain Max Gawn has revealed that the unbeaten Demons had placed an emphasis on protecting their home ground in the lead-up to their win over Sydney.
The Demons were well and truly put to the test in a classic wet-weather slugfest, before prevailing 10. 7. (67) to 8. 10. (58) winners in front of a raucous crowd at the MCG.
Following the match, Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin was seen giving the team a talk in a tight huddle before they went into the changerooms and Gawn opened up on just what the coach said.
"I think the MCG and the Melbourne Football Club hasn't been a place where teams are afraid to come to," he told Fox Footy.
Max Gawn was involved in a tense ruck battle all evening with Swans big man Tom Hickey Getty
"For example, Sydney had won six in a row against us at the MCG and that was addressed earlier this week.
"Teams coming from interstate have beaten us up over the last few years, so we really just wanted to make the MCG a fortress and make it hard for teams to come and play here.
"Goody just addressed that at the end and he also said that we've got to keep learning every single week and the fact that we were able to play a completely different game tonight and still get over the top, he made sure we all knew that point before we headed off to the changerooms."
Of Melbourne's 8-0 start to the season, five of the victories have come on the hallowed turf of the MCG.
Lance Franklin was unable to escape the clutches of Steven May even after the final siren Getty
The All-Australian ruckman was once again heavily influential in the win, finishing with 16 disposals and 43 hitouts, as the likes of Clayton Oliver (35 disposals and 10 clearances) feasted off the skipper's work in the middle.
Tom McDonald continues his renaissance season with a four-goal haul and combined well with star recruit Ben Brown, who added three goals for the second game in a row.
Callum Mills was Sydney's best player, finishing with 33 disposals and 10 tackles, while the returning Lance Franklin was held goalless by Melbourne's Steven May.
Melbourne will have a chance to extend its MCG dominance next week when it hosts Carlton, while Sydney will head back home to host a resurgent Collingwood side.
