Why Max Gawn ‘wants to punch Simon Goodwin in the face’

Max Gawn has enjoyed the last laugh over senior coach Simon Goodwin after Melbourne’s tight win over Port Adelaide on Saturday night.

A week after beating Hawthorn with a score of 14 goals and nine behinds, the Demons were even more accurate against the Power with 15 goals and just six behinds.

Yet rather than a night of simple set shots Melbourne produced freakish accuracy at Adelaide Oval.

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The Dees kicked several goals from tight angles — some at a distance — and finished more than 30 points above their expected score.

Most of Port’s goals, by contrast, came from straight in front but a series of misses meant their score was about eight points lower than expected, and the difference didn’t go unnoticed by either side.

“He loves the expected score, Goody. To be honest I hate it,” Gawn told Fox Sports, quickly revealing the painful reason why.

“I hate it when he says it when we’re sitting in the finals against Collingwood and Carlton, we’ve lost, and Goody’s on expected score — us winning by 30 points.

“I almost want to get up and punch him in the face. So the fact that it’s roles reversed tonight has actually brought a little smile to my face.”

Gawn kicked a behind from a 50m set shot in the first quarter but converted an almost identical attempt — from the other wing — in the third term.

“I don’t think I’ve missed from there for about three years,” he joked.

“I honestly love that spot and I knew the time of the game … I felt like I’ve grown up and got a bit mature in that spot. I’ve done a lot of set-shot practice in my 15 years and it’s good to finally get one that matters.

“I don’t even try and get the ball 25 (metres) out. Even if I mark it I’m going to embarrass myself so I’m just better off going out from 50.”

A vague reference to expected scores featured in the first question Goodwin faced in his post-match press conference.

“If you look at the numbers Port probably should’ve won the game. But we won the critical moments and that’s why I’m so proud of this footy team,” he said.

“That was the big difference in the game — our ability to be a bit more efficient, take our chances and kick accurately at goal. Tonight we probably won on the efficiency side.”

Goodwin credited Port premiership coach Mark Williams for the improved accuracy in front of goal.

“He’s been doing goalkicking at our footy club for a few years now and we’ve been building,” he said.

“Last year we were heading in the right direction for most of the year and it was more just at the back end of the year that it didn’t quite come our way.

“Consistency in process and program, the boys are really invested into it.”

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley also referenced the data in declaring Melbourne were “off the charts” with their goalkicking.

“We did a lot of things right tonight, but we didn’t win the game, and that’s what it comes down to,” he said.

“When you see Melbourne kick an expected score of +33 and we go -8, that’s footy. That’s what happens. Two really good teams playing a really strong game of football all night.

“I’m sure Goody and the Melbourne boys will be pretty proud of their efforts to come over and do what they did, they were able to execute when the moments got big.”