‘Perfect’ Tassie signing that would send ‘seismic shock’ through AFL
With Max Gawn leaving the door slightly ajar as to where he could finish his career, Kane Cornes believes he would be a “perfect” marquee signing for the Tassie Devils.
The 34-year-old Melbourne captain made his ninth All-Australian team in 2026 and remains the best ruckman in the competition.
Melbourne captain Max Gawn. AFL Photos
Speaking at an event, Gawn was asked about any potential allure of becoming part of the inaugural Devils roster.
“My phone is always open, I am keen to jump in the commentary box with (Matt Keenan) and commentate the Tour de France at some point as well,” he joked.
“If SBS want to jump into my phone … (but) I am pretty keen to finish up at Melbourne.”
The veteran stated it was pretty likely he would finish up a one-club player.
“I’m getting old, nah, I’m pretty keen at Melbourne, I understand (Jack Viney) would’ve said the same thing 12 months ago,” Gawn said.
“I’ve just applauded (list boss Tim Lamb) and (coach Steven King) and if I’m the one that has to move on next year and I still think there’s footy ahead of me, then that conversation will come.
“But right now it does look like my finish will be at the Demons.”
Cornes says we've seen similar shock moves come out of nowhere in recent years, and Gawn would be the perfect player to set standards and build culture in Tasmania.
“It’s the right way to play it (leaving the door ajar). I’ve heard him speak about the fact that he’s been at Melbourne for such a long period of time, and he needs to get out and experience some other stuff as well,” Cornes told SEN on Tuesday.
"It's all little clues and little things lining up.
"Would it be the biggest shock of any player to join Tassie, if Max Gawn did? He's the inspirational Melbourne skipper. It would be a seismic shock.
"But having said that, it was a seismic shock that Sam Mitchell went to West Coast, it's reasonably seismic that Scott Pendlebury is going to be playing for Gold Coast next year.
"Gawn will be 35 in December? How long can he play for? It depends on how they look after him. They've run him into the ground, which he thrives on. They tried to get him help with Brodie Grundy, it didn't work.
"How long can he continue to do this? He'd be great for Tassie. He'd be perfect for two years then transitioning into coaching if that's what he wants to do. He'd get paid very well.
"Melbourne fans would be mortified if he left."
Gawn, who will be 35 next season, has played 271 games for the Demons since joining them in the 2009 draft, including the 2021 premiership.
He now holds the record for most All-Australian teams made in AFL history, surpassing the likes of Gary Ablett Jr, Patrick Dangerfield, Lance Franklin and others tied on eight.
He may not be the only captain, who also happens to be a ruckman, on Tasmania's radar for 2027.
Richmond skipper Toby Nankervis hails from North Launceston and will be out of contract at the right time.
Captains moving clubs once seemed sacrilegious, but in the last 12 months we’ve seen Toby Greene abandon GWS, Zach Merrett attempt to force his way out of Essendon, St Kilda force Jack Steele out to Melbourne and Jy Simpkin request a trade from North Melbourne.
