Michael Hibberd and Max Gawn embrace after Melbourne's preliminary final win over Geelong Cats at Optus Stadium on September 10, 2021. Picture: AFL Photos

IN TODAY'S AFL Daily, star journalists Damian Barrett and Mitch Cleary join all the dots on football's big issues.

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- Max Gawn is on the verge of being the first All-Australian/premiership ruckman since and all-time legend
- The Demon duo that are 'key as any aspect of this Melbourne team'
- Clubs raid Richmond's list: Mabior Chol off to Gold Coast, this Tiger is 'being heavily courted from North'
- The impact of COVID on player movement

In this episode ... 

0:30 – Why Max Gawn is so special

2:00 – The significance of the Dees' twin defensive pillars

4:24 – Can the Dogs' key forwards match it with Lever and May?

5:22 – The Bulldogs' backline has been less stable than Melbourne's

7:31 – Max Gawn comes up against his former teammate Stefan Martin

8:38 – Richmond might lose their two young key forwards

10:58 – Delisted Crow Daniel Talia to the Tigers?

12:12 – Trent Cotchin's captaincy replacement

14:30 – Is Jeremy Finlayson in Port Adelaide's sights?

15:54 – The impact COVID is having on player movement