Gawn enjoys a blazing All-Australian run but makes passionate speech for rival skipper

Melbourne great Max Gawn has capped a record ninth All-Australian selection by being named captain, but the biggest moment of the AFL Awards came when Gawn’s Adelaide counterpart Jordan Dawson was named as his deputy.

On the field, the Crows skipper had a year to remember, but off-field he endured unimaginable heartbreak with the loss of his elder brother , Jaryd.

In paying tribute to Dawson, Gawn said he knew who showed the most leadership this season – the No.12 for Adelaide.

“There’s a lot of captains in the team, [but] to be honest I think we probably saw one of the better captains speeches here tonight already,” Gawn said.

“I think we saw some leadership tonight. For Jordan to get up and do what he did, to speak about mental health, to lead his side through the tragedy that happened with his family, and then to show vulnerability in front of a group of strangers, that he hasn’t got it right, he hasn’t got it perfect [in] his battle right now in asking for help – that’s a captain that I want to be behind.”

Just minutes earlier at Centrepiece at Melbourne Park, Dawson – this year’s All-Australian vice captain – gave a spine-tingling speech about the importance of speaking up when times are tough.

“It’s not easy – it’s a range of emotions. They come at different times, and for me it was just about creating a safe place within the footy club, within home and understanding that there’s going to be times where I’ll struggle to come into work, but the footy club’s been awesome in that space.

“[It’s] also me understanding that it’s OK to feel a certain type of way, and to also talk to the people that are close to me and the ones I love, and make sure we’re having ongoing conversations about how we’re all dealing with the events that’ve happened. It’s still pretty raw ... it’s always going to be hard to talk about, I think.

“I just want to wish anyone who’s struggled with mental health out there, or who is struggling with mental health, to know that you are definitely loved, and the world is a better place with you in it, and that you are enough, and that we all love you, and that you have beautiful family and friends around you.”

On the football front, there were several controversial omissions in the 23-man team unveiled on Tuesday night.

Gawn became the first man to earn nine green blazers and was honoured to also assume the captaincy, a role Demons coach Steven King last week said he deserved. Gawn had captained the All-Australian side once before, in 2021.

Western Bulldogs counterpart Marcus Bontempelli joined a select group – also including Gary Ablett snr, Gary Ablett jnr, Patrick Dangerfield, Lance Franklin, Robert Harvey and Mark Ricciuto – to have enjoyed the top honour eight times.

A record five Indigenous players were named – Wayne Milera, Jarman Impey, Kysaiah Pickett, Shai Bolton and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.