‘Stupid’: Gawn apologises for fuelling trade rumours on star’s Dees reunion

Melbourne skipper Max Gawn has apologised for fuelling rumours Luke Jackson could return to the club.

There’s been suggestions throughout the year Jackson could seek a move back to the Demons after being traded to Fremantle in 2022 to return to his home state Western Australia.

And Gawn last week added to the conjecture on Triple M radio.

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“WA is an unbelievable to place to be when you’re 18, 19, like it’s a great party and these Perth boys go back at 22 and all their mates have sort of grown up a bit,” Gawn said last week.

“There’s so many people that got a trade back to WA and then came back, not mentioning one that potentially could be coming back soon.”

*APAC Sports Pictures of the Week - 2023, May 29* - MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 27: Luke Jackson of the Dockers and Max Gawn of the Demons compete in the ruck during the round 11 AFL match between Narrm Football Club / Melbourne Demons and Walyalup / Fremantle Dockers at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on May 27, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

While Gawn didn’t directly reference Jackson, it only further fuelled speculation of a reunion with the 2021 premiership Demon.

The Melbourne captain on Monday moved to acknowledge he made a mistake.

“I will clear it up. I certainly don’t like myself speculating about other people who are contracted, I think that’s stupid. I apologise if that was how it came across, it wasn’t my intention,” Gawn said on Triple M.

“My intention was to have a little laugh. I appreciate that Luke has said that he’s staying.”

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 29: Max Gawn cheats with Luke Jackson of the Demons during the 2022 AFL Round 20 match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Melbourne Demons at Optus Stadium on July 29, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

Dockers coach Justin Longmuir over the weekend downplayed the Jackson trade talk, noting the 23-year old was “a bit confused” where it came from.

Jackson has four years remaining on his seven-year deal with the Dockers that expires in 2029.

As Fremantle tries to work out how to best deploy Jackson and Luke Darcy, Gawn acknowledged the challenge of a two-ruck system after his partnership with Brodie Grundy didn’t work.

“We butchered two rucks,” Gawn added.

“It probably hasn’t worked this year with two rucks (for Fremantle), but Sean and Luke have been a good ruck combination in the last two years.

“I think Sean came back from a pretty bad injury and came back a week or two early. This could be the blessing in disguise that he needs.”

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