Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Max Gawn is the best ruckman of all time and simply curbing his influence is all Marc Pittonet needs do to help keep Carlton’s AFL fairytale alive.
That’s the opinion of the self-confessed “ruck nerd” ahead of the Blues’ wildcard match against Melbourne.
Demons skipper Gawn, 35, should become the first player to claim nine All-Australian blazers on Tuesday night, ahead of Saturday night’s MCG blockbuster.
“I think he’s the best ever. I think he’s a freak,” Pittonet said.
“Like, what is he, 35? And had 28 (disposals) last week and 10 clearances. He’s a gun. The fact that he’s been this good for this long is just incredible.
“I look at it as: I had a thing growing up, you go and watch finals, you go and watch big games, imagine playing against the best players like, ‘how much fun would that be?’
“Because if you’re playing against the best players, you’re playing big moments, you’re playing in front of big crowds. You can’t lose.
“No matter what happens on the weekend, it’s so exciting to be out there and have that opportunity.”
Last time, Gawn had 58 hitouts and 23 disposals as Melbourne came from behind to sink Carlton.
Blues ruckman Pittonet has had plenty of cracks at 209cm-tall Gawn without victory.
Pittonet, who just played his 100th AFL game, has stared his footballing mortality in the face multiple times and come out the other side.
Gawn and Pittonet have both survived the new ruck rules that favour their more athletic counterparts.
Pittonet believes Gawn has nailed the “granular detail” of ruck craft, while he considers his own ability to jump off each leg evenly and hit with both his hands evenly a “point of difference”.
The 30-year-old loves “ruck chat” with ruck coach Matthew Kreuzer and was delighted when coach Josh Fraser, a big man himself, joined in recently.
But the chatty big man won’t be giving Gawn any lip on Saturday night – if he can help it.
“I’ll try not to poke the bear,” Pittonet said.
