Star Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn concedes he might need some help after he was physically worked over by Port Adelaide duo Paddy Ryder and Scott Lycett in the Demons' upset loss.
Gawn was battered into ineffectiveness by the Power, whose players targeted the dual All Australian physically and mentally throughout their 26-point win at the MCG on Saturday.
The 27-year-old managed 21 hitouts, with that output well down on his average of just under 45 taps per game last year.
The strategy appeared to cross the line on at least one occasion, Port co-captain Tom Jonas will face scrutiny for an off-the-ball bump that sent Gawn crashing to the turf, but the Demon didn't have an issue with the treatment.
"My mindset on the day was to take one for the team and that they'd go off their game to come at me but that obviously didn't work," Gawn told Channel Seven's Game Day.
"They didn't go off their game and I was off mine.
"I knew it was coming from Port Adelaide, they've done that a few times, but I probably just didn't handle it as well as I should have."
Demons coach Simon Goodwin has been reluctant to use two ruckmen in the same line-up but a rethink could be in order, with off-season recruit Braydon Preuss the most likely reinforcement.
"I like to get into my zone and play big minutes in the ruck," Gawn replied when asked how he felt playing a lone hand against two opponents.
"But Ryder and Lycett are probably going to be the best combo this year until Gawn and Preuss get unleashed."
Jubilant Power coach Ken Hinkley was unapologetic for the physical approach.
The coach said that Lycett, who won the flag with West Coast last year before signing with Port as a free agent, had helped implement the strategy successfully employed by the Eagles.
"There was certainly a little bit of information that we got through Scotty and why wouldn't we use it?" Hinkley told Channel Nine's The Footy Show.
"We certainly made an attempt to make sure that Max had a hard day but we also knew that Lycett and Ryder together were going to make it hard enough on him.
"Then if the other boys could just help out a little bit it would certainly make Max's day tougher."
Australian Associated Press
