- Mad Monday celebrations started early for some clubs
Melbourne Demons captain Max Gawn has revealed his team had to change their Mad Monday festivities on the run after they bumped into Richmond players at a popular pub.
Speaking on Triple M’s Mick in the Morning on Monday, the seven-time All Australian representative confirmed his team started letting their hair down early.
‘I’m experienced this time of the year. This is my 16th Mad Monday week,’ the premiership-winning skipper began.
‘(To start) we had a couple of beers on Saturday night after watching the AFLW on Saturday afternoon.
‘And then a long lunch on Sunday at Lamaro’s (in South Melbourne).
‘Then we ended up in St Kilda…me and (teammate) Jake Melksham took a Lime scooter down there.
Melbourne Demons captain Max Gawn (pictured right) has revealed his team had to change their Mad Monday festivities on the run after they bumped into Richmond players in a pub
Speaking on Triple M’s Mick in the Morning on Monday, seven-time All Australian representative Gawn (pictured with wife Jessica) confirmed his team started letting their hair down early on Sunday
The Demons ended up in St Kilda – but after spotting Richmond players at a popular watering hole on Beach Rd they moved on as it can be ‘awkward’ socialising near rival stars
‘That (Beach Hotel) was where Richmond were – what are the odds that Richmond were at that pub? So, we couldn’t go to that pub.’
Gawn added he soon tapped out on Sunday – and as a squad, the Demons didn’t want to run into rival stars from North Melbourne, St Kilda or Richmond as it can be ‘awkward’ at times.
‘We used to have a rule that you weren’t allowed to speak to another AFL [team on] footy trips,’ he added.
‘It’s hilarious. They would come and talk to you, and you’d literally be head down, not talking to them. It does get awkward.’
Following their defeat at the hands of Collingwood on August 22 at the MCG, the Demons finished in 14th spot, well out of finals contention.
Coach Simon Goodwin was sacked earlier this month after the board lost faith in the team’s direction, with his replacement still to be named.
Goodwin – who won a flag in 2021 – will receive a payout of nearly $1million for next season given he was under contract.
The likes of Collingwood great Nathan Buckley and former Swans coach John Longmire have been touted as potential replacements.
Elsewhere, the AFL top eight will be finalised after Gold Coast tackle Essendon on Wednesday night.
If the Suns beat the Bombers, they will play finals footy for the first time.
