Max Gawn responds to incident in Melbourne Demons win over North Melbourne Kangaroos

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin described the incident as “nasty” and said his primary concern when he made his way to the rooms was Sparrow’s welfare. “Clearly when someone goes down like that, that you love, and you care about, like his teammates do, they’re going to rally around him, which they did,” Goodwin said. “He’s up, he’s talking. He’s got his family and friends around him ... but he goes straight into the protocols.” Immediately after the game Xerri’s opponent Gawn told Fox Footy: “I thought it was high. “Xerri, I know as a ruck, he’s following up [from a ruck contest] as hard as he can, and he’s the best in the comp at doing it, so there’s definitely an element of that.

“But once I saw my teammate down, I had to… respond.” The Demons were spurred on by veteran forward Jake Melksham, who booted five goals – including three in the final quarter. The Roos were within striking distance, trailing by 16 points at three-quarter-time, before Melksham’s star turn snuffed out their hopes. But the clash between Xerri and Sparrow will dominate post-match discussion. The 25-year-old Demon immediately fell to ground motionless after copping the blow, and Melbourne players, including Gawn, seemingly tried to stop the Roo checking on Sparrow. Sparrow didn’t move for some time after the incident at the 25-minute mark of the final term, but gave a thumbs up as he was stretchered off.

Without being prompted, Clarkson cited the round-17 incident between Davies-Uniacke and Bulldog Ed Richards. The veteran coach said his player copped a “a raised forearm to the scone” when Richards tried to fend him off. Clarkson wasn’t sure if Xerri would be suspended. “We’re at their discretion [the AFL match review system]. They look at every concussion, but they looked at LDU’s concussion last week, and said, ‘No case to answer’,” Clarkson said. The Demons hadn’t tasted victory this season since late May, just their sixth win for 2025 coming against an emerging North Melbourne team that disposed of the Blues in their most recent visit to the MCG. Jake Melksham. Credit: Getty Images

In a classic dead-rubber, Melksham was the standout player for the Demons, while Christian Petracca, at times matched up with emerging Roo Colby McKercher, was typically smooth throughout and finished with 31 possessions and seven clearances. The Demons earned a hint of breathing space only seven minutes into the third when Gawn hit a drop punt crisply and his kick sailed through the big sticks to give them a 10-point lead. When Bayley Fritsch followed suit with another set shot goal only a minute or two later – making it five straight goals to the Demons – and it seemed like the floodgates could open. The match wasn’t quite over, however. Cam Zurhaar had a purple patch of his own that term, kicking three goals, to keep North in the contest.

Enter Melksham. The 241-game veteran and former Bomber marking his mark in the final term and clinching victory for the Demons in front of just over 35,000 fans. Essendon’s injury fears realised Essendon’s annus horribilis in the medical room has gone to another level after gun player Nic Martin and Will Setterfield joined the growing list of Bombers who won’t play again in 2025. Martin was injured in the first quarter against Richmond at the MCG on Saturday night when his knee twisted awkwardly after he was bumped over the boundary line. His ruptured ACL was confirmed on Sunday. Nic Martin will miss an extended period with a torn ACL. Credit: AFL Photos

Setterfield suffered a dreaded Lisfranc foot injury and the Bombers said he would see a surgeon this week. Martin became the fourth Bomber to injure their ACL this season, joining Nick Bryan, Lewis Hayes and Tom Edwards. “This is incredibly tough news for Nic and for the entire club,” Essendon’s general manager of football Daniel McPherson said in a statement. “He’s been a vital part of our midfield this season, and his absence will certainly be felt. Our players, coaches, staff, and all Bomber members and supporters will feel his loss. He’s had a terrific year and has been critical to our ability to perform week in, week out.” McPherson also praised Setterfield for his performances so far this season.

“Will’s effort and intent this season has been terrific, so we are all disappointed that he won’t be back out there this year,” McPherson said. The list of first-choice Essendon players sidelined also includes Sam Draper, Darcy Parish, Jye Caldwell, Ben McKay, Kyle Langford, Harry Jones, Zach Reid and Martin. Essendon coach Brad Scott said the club was being stretched by the injury toll and by regularly bringing in fresh faces it resulted in a “complete lack of synergy and connection”. “It just sent a shiver down everyone’s spine,” Scott said of the quarter-time news on Saturday night that Martin’s season was likely over. “I can’t think of a situation like this in my time in footy. We’re just asking a lot of guys who haven’t played AFL before, and every week we put out a side that’s never played together.

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