Chris Dawes

[Robbie57 2,026]

His performance at the presser is exactly what we need. I hope he gets to address the players directly at some stage.

I really Neeld puts a couple of our future stars under his wing, in particular Watts.

Dawes efforts chasing (at one stage i feared for his hamstring he tried so hard) and on the ground were fantastic.

[Red N Blue Society 165]

His performance at the presser is exactly what we need. I hope he gets to address the players directly at some stage.

I really Neeld puts a couple of our future stars under his wing, in particular Watts.

Dawes efforts chasing (at one stage i feared for his hamstring he tried so hard) and on the ground were fantastic.

I agree Robbie57.

This guy is going to be very good for us. And speaks like he wants to lead.

I too saw his chases. He bought the ball to ground in contests if he couldn't mark it...

Good player and will be a good recruit. Stick Howe and Mitch alongside and let's then see what happens to the opposition. But what we need now also is a compliment to chunk....either someone stands up or we go get a ready made star. Hopefully jack viney comes along as much as he has but quicker.

[demonoid 317]

I agree Robbie57.

This guy is going to be very good for us. And speaks like he wants to lead.

I too saw his chases. He bought the ball to ground in contests if he couldn't mark it...

Good player and will be a good recruit. Stick Howe and Mitch alongside and let's then see what happens to the opposition. But what we need now also is a compliment to chunk....either someone stands up or we go get a ready made star. Hopefully jack viney comes along as much as he has but quicker.

agreed on the chasing. Put a lot of pressure on opponents when he didn't have the ball that often resulted in errors. Much quicker than I thought he was

[Pates 9,679]

I like the level of expectation he's bringing with his leadership, not just content to talk about the positive steps but to point out that we need to be winning as well.

Commentators will forever say that we paid overs for him, but like Clark he isn't just a good footballer we've brought to the club, he's a leader.

[jazza 1,323]

I agree Robbie57.

This guy is going to be very good for us. And speaks like he wants to lead.

I too saw his chases. He bought the ball to ground in contests if he couldn't mark it...

Good player and will be a good recruit. Stick Howe and Mitch alongside and let's then see what happens to the opposition. But what we need now also is a compliment to chunk....either someone stands up or we go get a ready made star. Hopefully jack viney comes along as much as he has but quicker.

going on local footy in my time

it must be very difficult for a new player to come into a club and TAKE over senoir duties from players already at the club

so a big tick for taking a lead role

also noticing his chasing and people remarking about clark and watts coming into this forward line, couldnt help but feel the mids will cop less backpeddling after forward turnovers. all of a sudden the positives start to look here and there

amazing after the pasting the fd has taken

lets hope dawes clark watts midfield and the FD can all see the positives in one overpaid lump according to most

Edited May 20, 2013 by jazza

[Sir Why You Little 37,311]

Chris Dawes was great yesterday. The rest of the footy world can get stuffed. I thank Mark Neeld for this one.

He will help to inspire those around. His first mark before that first goal was lucky but he held it after 3 grabs.

He will get better.

[Tracca 862]

Chris Dawes is going to be far better than his $500k salary. This bloke bleeds leadership. He takes no crap from anyone, and is a leader amongst boys/men already.

Very happy to have him in our side. Cannot wait for him and Clark to tear it up together

Edited May 20, 2013 by dawi03

[CatFishPig 465]

Dawes & Clark alone will create headaches for defence..

Next year with Hogan, Howe and Watts playing through there as well, we are starting to look very dangerous.

If we can land Dion Prestia at years end, along with another big bodied mid. Add a top 5 pick, maybe 2 top 5 picks if we get a priority pick which people are saying, then we are really shaping up well..

Tommy Mac, Chip, Garland and Grimesy down back.. We are looking like we could crack finals in my opinion..

Whilst this year has so far been upsetting, I still see the future being as bright as I ever have..

[Doake 2]

Something good I noticed about Dawes was that instead of going through the motions - going back on his mark 10 metres then looking for options. He wheels and turns expecting a lead to be already there. This he would of learnt under Malthouse with Travis Cloke ofcourse. If Clark or a genuine tall forward was in the lineup we could of had a lot more scoring chances instead of Dawes kicking to hope because there wasn't any good leads on. Dawes seems to bring a lot more to MFC then many expected.

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

He has the head of a 250 game player on his shoulders, i can see exactly why he maybe paid overs to get him to the club now, the post match presser was very impressive.

[hardtack 10,863]

Chris Dawes was great yesterday. The rest of the footy world can get stuffed. I thank Mark Neeld for this one.

He will help to inspire those around. His first mark before that first goal was lucky but he held it after 3 grabs.

He will get better.

So far Neeld has brought in Clark and Dawes, we already have a reasonable back line (they look a lot worse than they are because they are literally being continually bombarded)... this is why I believe Neeld should be allowed to complete his work this year by bringing in a couple of solid experienced mids and perhaps one more experienced back. I think then we will start to see a turn around in our fortunes as the ball will finally spend more time forward than back.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,022]

So far Neeld has brought in Clark and Dawes, we already have a reasonable back line (they look a lot worse than they are because they are literally being continually bombarded)... this is why I believe Neeld should be allowed to complete his work this year by bringing in a couple of solid experienced mids and perhaps one more experienced back. I think then we will start to see a turn around in our fortunes as the ball will finally spend more time forward than back.

Matthew Knights built Essendon's spine so that they've subsequently improved quickly with the addition and development of quality mids. This strikes me as the correct way to go given the slower pace of development of key position players. It's why Hawthorn and Geelong have been so good and (in a prediction which I hope won't come back to bite me) Carlton and Richmond are not going to make it to the top. Both the Blues and Tigers have excellent midfields, but by the time they get their key position players sorted out, the midfielders may be past their prime.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

He is a beauty. yay for some good news, and good recruiting by us for a change!

[Grimseyisgod 378]

the guy comes from a culture that certainly doesnt embrace losing. He is a breath of fresh air.

Him and Viney are two players who can single handedly save us.. because you know what they have in common..

THEY LOATH LOSING

[Gorgoroth 13,184]

Notice Dawes spoke of winning..... Haven't heard a player or coach say anything about winning in a while.

[Deecisive 1,709]

Loved his approach, loved his attitude and chasing. He will be an asset, especially if we can get some decent delivery to him.

[Suzanna 72]

Apparently he suffered from a pretty bad thumb injury that messed up his marking for a couple of years at Collingwood. Perhaps that injury has made him a little reticent to really "go the dukes," as that [censored] Brian Taylor would say.

If I were Mark Neeld, I'd get Mitch Clark to teach him how to extend the arms again. That's one thing Clark does really well.

I wonder if a glove would help? At least give him some mental security?

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

Dawes certainly has a presence off the field. He has a big voice, is a huge man but, most importantly, makes uncommon sense when he talks. People are going to listen when he speaks

On the field we have been in short supply of 'presence' amongst the bigger guys for years. T. McDonald, Jamar, Frawley, Garland, Sellar, and Watts are all decent players on their day but are not going to drag a team kicking and screaming out of mediocrity

Hopefully Chris along with Clark will be able to inspire where others have not. Apparently Hogan has a presence already and I can see Gawn developing an arrogant confidence as he improves and gets fitter. Add Jones and Grimes and Viney

I don't know how many genuine leaders you need. Is that enough? Geelong seems to have about a dozen of them

[BrisbaneDemon 1,574]

Dawes certainly has a presence off the field. He has a big voice, is a huge man but, most importantly, makes uncommon sense when he talks. People are going to listen when he speaks

On the field we have been in short supply of 'presence' amongst the bigger guys for years. T. McDonald, Jamar, Frawley, Garland, Sellar, and Watts are all decent players on their day but are not going to drag a team kicking and screaming out of mediocrity

Hopefully Chris along with Clark will be able to inspire where others have not. Apparently Hogan has a presence already and I can see Gawn developing an arrogant confidence as he improves and gets fitter. Add Jones and Grimes and Viney

I don't know how many genuine leaders you need. Is that enough? Geelong seems to have about a dozen of them

Lets just hope we can keep them on the bloody park!, its pretty hard to inspire sitting in the grandstand. Our run of injuries has been shocking!

[PJ_12345 1,098]

I wonder if a glove would help? At least give him some mental security?

Good idea, however gloves are becoming a minefield with the AFL.

They have banned some types, which offer an unfair grip advantage, so really unless you have a medical reason, like Lynch's loose finger which his glove protects, then your better off not having one.

Also gloves can effect the drop of the ball when kicking. Lynch has started to take his off at set shots so really there are few advantages.

Edited May 21, 2013 by PJ_12345

[Vagg 2,449]

I loved the bit in the Presser where he actually butted in over the top of Neeldy, emphasising the fact that the lack of effort is not something that can be blamed on the Coach, and that it's something that an AFL player is just expected to bring to the table. Good stuff!

In the words of Bert Newton, "I LIKE the boy...!"

[PJ_12345 1,098]

Just one more point to add. Bailey seemed to believe he could create a big, solid forward from scratch drafting Watts and Cook for the purpose. Neeld recognised he couldn't wait that long and went out and got Clark and Dawes. Hogan's just a bonus who now has time to develop with other large bodies forwards around him.

Neeld now has to get the midfield organised...and quickly.

I'd be dead by the time Cook would be classified as a big, solid forward... I like long-term strategy but 50 years is a bit excessive

[alias275 259]

I loved the bit in the Presser where he actually butted in over the top of Neeldy, emphasising the fact that the lack of effort is not something that can be blamed on the Coach, and that it's something that an AFL player is just expected to bring to the table. Good stuff!

In the words of Bert Newton, "I LIKE the boy...!"

I couldn't stop laughing when that happened. Neeld's face was like WTF? at first and then after his deep voice spill (the sub on my stereo got a workout when he spoke), you could see Neeld was thinking "about time someone said it"

He couldn't be more correct. Effort, hardness and competitiveness is not something an AFL coach should even be touching on. It's something every player must have and must do each and every week.

Can't wait to see Clark and Dawes on at the same time. We've missed the 2 big boys up forward since Neitz and Schwartz?

[hardtack 10,863]

In the words of Bert Newton, "I LIKE the boy...!"

Nearly the last words he spoke, if I recall correctly.

[monoccular 17,648]

I wonder if a glove would help? At least give him some mental security?

I guess he may have discussed it with Choke before he left the Pies, but decided against it.

I loved the bit in the Presser where he actually butted in over the top of Neeldy, emphasising the fact that the lack of effort is not something that can be blamed on the Coach, and that it's something that an AFL player is just expected to bring to the table. Good stuff!

In the words of Bert Newton, "I LIKE the boy...!"

I don't imagine either of our boy captains would have done that. CD oozes leadership and I hope it is infectious.