Max Gawn’s appointment as Melbourne captain can bring the club together after a tumultuous 2019 season, according to Western Bulldogs champion Bob Murphy.
Gawn will skipper the Demons for the first time in 2020 with Jack Viney named vice-captain after serving as co-captain with Nathan Jones for three seasons.
Murphy says the All-Australian ruckman’s “charismatic personality” can be a vital link between the club and its supporters.
“I really like the decision (appointment of Gawn), Murphy told SEN’s Bob and Andy.
“I think where Melbourne are at as a footy team but more so as a footy club, I think the decision makes a lot of sense.
“Jack Viney is a lead by example (captain). Quiet by nature, hard at it, ultra-professional, hard trainer, confrontational, but I think Max has got the ability to bring the football team together … and to join the club by connecting it with its supporters.
“He (Gawn) is their best player, he is their most charismatic personality, I just think he is able to bring all of those things together in a way that Jack can’t. I think Jack is perfectly suited to the role as vice-captain.”
Gawn, 28, has played 120 games for Melbourne and is a three-time All-Australian in 2016, 2018 and 2019.
The Demons will go into 2020 with a leadership group consisting of just Gawn and Viney.
