Max Gawn strongly disputes the "no Nic Nat, no Eagles" theory.
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The Melbourne star points to fellow AFL All-Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy as Exhibit A in his argument.
Gawn is one of the keys to Saturday's preliminary final against West Coast, even more so because the Eagles are without Nic Naitanui.
When West Coast's talismanic ruckman went down in round 17 with a season-ending knee reconstruction, it was seen as a dagger through the heart of their premiership hopes.
But back-up ruckmen Scott Lycett and Nathan Vardy have stepped up superbly since, and they played key roles against Grundy in the qualifying final win over Collingwood.
"It technically didn't really hurt them against Brodie, and Brodie's been one of the best rucks in the comp this year," Gawn said of Naitanui's absence.
"I was really impressed with how both of them handled the 'Brodie Grundy Game', especially Vardy when he came in."
Gawn said he has rucked far more often against Lycett and Vardy, than he has against Naitanui.
"I'm used to these guys and we're around the same age, we've battled for years," he said.
"It's going to be a good little game with those two."
Gawn, Neville Jetta and Alex Neal-Bullen missed Monday's light run and that sparked inevitable speculation, especially given it is preliminary final week.
But none are expected to be in doubt for Saturday's Optus Stadium match.
"It's just sometimes you do the one and a half km fluffy session where they handball, and sometimes you don't," he said.
"I didn't do it and it seemed to be the one when every camera was down (there), which is preliminary final, which is Gosch's Paddock.
"That's just something that happens from week to week - I will train (on Wednesday) if you want to bring the cameras down and see how I'm going, and I will be there on Friday in Perth."
The Demons will head west full of confidence, especially after beating the Eagles at the same venue in round 22, also in warm Perth afternoon conditions.
Apart from confirming Melbourne's return to the finals, the win gave their self-belief a major boost after several tight losses.
"It wasn't the finals relief, it was the win - the win was incredible," Gawn said.
"To go over to Perth, all our guys were really under pressure to perform after the Sydney (loss) and we put pressure on ourselves.
"To have that win - they hit the front in the last quarter - that was the joy, just to know we can do it."
Australian Associated Press
