Sparks will fly when Bulldog Butters returns to Adelaide for Gather Round

October 26, 2026 — 12:59pm

Melbourne captain Max Gawn has applauded the club’s “brutal” list-management calls which led to the departure of favourite son Jack Viney, but hopes he can finish his career as a one-club player.

Gawn is off contract in 2027, but at 33 is still playing some of the best football of his career, which he attributes, in part, to his punishing off-season cycling regime.

The 2021 premiership skipper won All-Australian selection for the ninth time in 2026, and is keen to remain a Demon for life when contract discussions open. However, he understands the business of football, having watched his fellow premiership on-ball brigade of Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Viney, along with key defender Steven May, depart over the past two seasons.

“I’m pretty keen in Melbourne. I understand ‘Vines’ would have said the same thing 12 months ago. So, I’ve just applauded ‘Lamby’ [list boss Tim Lamb] and King [coach Steven King], and if I’m the one that has to move on next year, and I still think there’s footy ahead of me, then that conversation will come, but right now, it does look like my finish will be with the Demons,” Gawn said on Monday.

However, speaking as an ambassador at the launch of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, Gawn hinted he would be open to offers, should negotiations with the Demons not go as planned, and if new club Tasmania came calling.

“I mean, my phone’s always open,” Gawn said.

“I mean, I’m keen to jump in the commentary box with ‘Kino’ [SBS commentator Matt Keenan] and commentate the Tour de France at some point as well. So if SBS want to jump into my phone … but, no, I’m pretty keen to finish up in Melbourne.”

Viney, 32, managed only one game this season because of Achilles and back injuries, and struggled when recalled for the wildcard final against Carlton, the Demons losing by 19 points. He was given the option to explore opportunities elsewhere, or face the possibility of long spells in the VFL.

Viney and fellow Demon Trent Rivers were traded to West Coast on the final day of the trade period.

“I applaud the list management team; they’ve made some brutal decisions,” Gawn said.

“None more brutal than probably Jack this year, but you’ve seen with what we’re able to do this year, with most people tipping us [to finish] bottom four, and we come out and play some pretty good footy.”

Gawn said he was delighted that Essendon and the Eagles showed interest in Viney, his former co-captain.

“I went from a little bit of surprise [at his departure], and then I went a little bit of other clubs were making him feel generally loved,” Gawn said.

“And now, he’s like, once it got to a point where West Coast were interested, he’s like: ‘I want to get there so bad, I want to rejuvenate my career, I want to take my family over there’. So I’m really excited for him.”

Gawn said the Demons had needed a substantial make-over, having seen how quickly Geelong transformed, even after winning the 2022 premiership. Only nine Demons players now remain from the 2021 premiership team.

“I sat there and looked at that [2022 Geelong] team, I was like, OK, and then they play in the grand final three years later, and they had 10 or 15 new players in that team. And, at the same time, Melbourne was still running the round with the ’21 premiership team,” Gawn said.

“It’s like, well, we haven’t changed or adapted or moved on. We’re still trying to win it again with the ’21 premiership team, and Geelong, at that very same time, had changed over 15 players. It’s like, OK, this is what’s needed in a way to stay in the modern game.”

A cycling enthusiast who now has his own podcast on the sport, Gawn’s pre-season training program has so far included “Everesting” South Australia’s exhausting Willunga Hill, riding the 3.7km climb 39.5 times in 21 hours, and another punishing ride on the island of Phuket in Thailand. He will soon head to Patagonia, at the southern end of South America, to ride in the wilderness. This program will also include running.

Gather Round games revealed

The AFL has scheduled three blockbuster games at the Adelaide Oval to underpin Gather Round, giving fans the first glimpse of its 2027 fixture on Monday.

Round four will open on Thursday April 8, with the Crows seeking revenge for their semi-final loss in 2026 to the Brisbane Lions, and close four days later with Western Bulldogs gun recruit Zak Butters facing his former side Port Adelaide for the first time.

In between, the league has scheduled a humdinger of a Saturday-night match between leading premiership fancies Fremantle and Hawthorn.

There are two other games scheduled at the Adelaide Oval across the weekend – Sydney v Collingwood on the Friday night and an early Saturday game between Carlton and Melbourne, who met in a wildcard final in 2026.

Gold Coast, GWS, Geelong and St Kilda are the four teams heading to the Barossa for their Gather Round games, while Richmond, West Coast, Essendon and North Melbourne are bound for Norwood Oval.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas – an avid Power fan – was quick to spruik the Gather Round program, which coincides with the Easter school holidays, and the inclusion of a players’ parade on the Friday.

“The blockbuster weekend of footy will be boosted with the inaugural Players Parade on Friday, allowing fans to see their heroes from all 18 clubs in one spot,” he said.

“Personally, I’m looking forward to being at a packed Adelaide Oval to see Zak Butters take on his former teammates.“

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Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.

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