Melbourne Demons captain Max Gawn, an eight-time All Australian ruckman, finds himself returning to fundamental study of his craft as new AFL regulations present unexpected challenges late in his distinguished career. The 34-year-old skipper acknowledges the league’s rule modifications—particularly mandatory jumping at center ball-ups and reduced throw-ins due to the new last disposal between arcs rule—have delivered what he describes as a professional “curveball.” Despite his reservations about the changes, Gawn demonstrates adaptability by committing to refine his techniques during his 17th season. The veteran athlete has resumed analyzing game footage, though he notes the limited sample size of available visuals showing the new rules in action. Gawn maintains that while he doesn’t personally favor the rule adjustments, their implementation necessitates strategic adaptation. He anticipates particularly testing the boundaries of legal ruck craft against more athletic opponents like Luke Jackson, acknowledging that pure jumping ability alone shouldn’t determine ruck dominance. Gawn remains confident in his overall contribution, emphasizing that his marking prowess around the ground will continue to provide significant value to his team alongside any adjusted ruck techniques.