Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas is dealing with a social media backlash for a suggestion Max Gawn let his teammates down on Friday night time.
The Demons captain went down with a knee harm simply minutes into his workforce’s dramatic loss to the Lions, the place the match was suspended on account of a lighting tower break down.
Demons midfielder Jack Viney innocuously ran into Gawn’s left leg within the early levels of the primary quarter.
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The ruckman was instantly in ache and went off the sphere and down into the rooms for evaluation along with his head in his palms.
He was changed by Melbourne’s substitute Jake Melksham, leaving new recruit Brodie Grundy to shoulder the ruck work in opposition to Brisbane’s Oscar McInerney and Darcy Fort.
Gawn was noticed within the rooms nursing an ice pack on his knee, wanting extraordinarily dejected.
Demons coach Simon Goodwin mentioned Gawn may have scans when the workforce returns to Melbourne. Membership officers on Friday night time had been unable to rule out an ACL harm.
Thomas on Friday night time mentioned he didn’t just like the look of Gawn sitting within the sheds because the Demons started to get pulled aside by the Lions early within the second half.
He mentioned Gawn would have given his teammates a morale increase by returning to the sphere and cheering them on from the bench.
“Presumably wouldn’t have modified a lot however Gawn sooking downstairs as a substitute of icing on bench and connecting with workforce he’s captain of didn’t assist,” Thomas wrote on Twitter.
His submit was met with a right away backlash, however Thomas refused to again down.
He went on to say: “If Gawn alternatively walked straight upstairs and began encouraging workforce mates I’m sure you’d all be praising his management and he uplifted as a substitute you’re feeling sorry for him as a result of he was downtrodden,” he posted.
He additionally responded to 1 Twitter person: “After all I hope he’s wonderful and don’t need him badly injured — that’s not and by no means was my level”.
Thomas did finally admit he obtained it unsuitable through the use of the time period “sooking”.
“Perceive some are offended with the phrase “sooking”, it was a nasty selection of phrases,” he posted.
“Wanting downtrodden and unhappy most likely higher however my abstract of that’s sooking which sounds a tad harsh. Apologies to these few.”
The instant response from most commentators was sympathy for the star ruckman.
“That picture is value 1000 phrases in case you are seeing it,” Gerard Whateley mentioned in commentary on SEN.
“And for those who’re not, it’s despondency if ever you’ve seen it.”
The premiership captain and six-time All Australian tore the ACL in his proper knee twice early in his profession.
Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph reported the “greatest case state of affairs” could be a medial ligament pressure that might rule Gawn out for a few months.
“The silver lining is it’s not his proper knee, which has been surgically reconstructed,” Ralph mentioned.
“However didn’t that physique language simply inform you a story of desolation.”
Demons head of soccer Alan Richardson mentioned Gawn’s preliminary analysis was “affordable”.
“Clearly a sore knee,” Richardson advised Channel 7 at halftime.
“We don’t know far more actually. I do know there’s a picture going round that means he’s feeling actually down and that results in potential ACL stuff. That’s not the case.
“We’re going to must scan it. Our docs are saying he feels affordable…”
Brisbane dominated the midfield battle to guide by 40 factors halfway via the fourth quarter earlier than an influence outage noticed the floodlights flip off and the sport suspended.
As soon as play resumed, Melbourne kicked 5 straight targets however it was too little, too late because the Lions held on for a 14.9 (93) to 13.4 (82) victory.
