Max Gawn will walk into the MCG for his 250th game on Sunday as the defining figure in Melbourne’s modern era – and, for many, the most influential ruckman of his generation. It’s a milestone that speaks not just to Gawn’s longevity, but to his dominance, durability and reinvention across one of the most volatile periods in the Demons’ history. Gawn has no interest in becoming one of those veterans who linger beyond their used-by date. As he approaches the milestone, the Melbourne captain is not measuring his career in seasons survived, but in standards maintained – a philosophy he underlined in round one when he overpowered St Kilda ruckman Tom De Koning in a decisive final-quarter performance that swung the game. It’s why Gawn finds himself drawn to sporting outliers such as LeBron James, Novak Djokovic and Lewis Hamilton – not simply for their longevity, but for their refusal to fade. “The best thing about those guys is they’re still performing,” Gawn said.…