Seemed pretty flat to me. Reflective of the whole club at the moment.

I agree - but he couldn't come out and do a comedy act.

I thought he was measured and reflective.

He is captain of his zone...when Mitchy gets back, Dawesy will muster the troops in that arc.

Played a great game last week against a top side.

Dawes is not a problem.

He's an intellect and I admire him. Mature beyond his years.

No i don't...We are the Challenge.

Gives Dawes the Captaincy...he is a natural..sitting next to Jonathon Brown..same physical presence.

Yep, before his contract runs out.

Our players are clearly held back by skill deficiencies, they may (and I and lots of others believe) that Neeld is holding them back through poor training/development/coaching, they've also done a wonderful job of setting the bar super low for effort. But the Hawthorn game they did try, that much was plain to see and that was Dawes' point. The only way to rebuild this team is one step forward at a time. Effort has to come first.

Games against Gold Coast, GWS for 3/4, Port, Essendon (after 10 minutes trying), West Coast second half there was 0 out of 10 for effort.

If you go to training the skills are fine, it is under the pressure of a game with inexperienced players that the errors occur, which bit don't you understand, go and watch the young guys at Casey without the super pressure, hardly a missed target, why do you think Hogan, Fitzpatrick, Gawn getting 3 and 4 goals a game, good delivery.

Dawes said the 'silly' skill errors have to be eradicated, it is not brain surgery

The players are with you on the effort, so they are trying to make that more consistent as well

Maybe you believe it, but don't speak for 'lots of others'

Next captain material

Like Clark, an absolutely inspired play getting him to the club.

If you go to training the skills are fine, it is under the pressure of a game with inexperienced players that the errors occur, which bit don't you understand, go and watch the young guys at Casey without the super pressure, hardly a missed target, why do you think Hogan, Fitzpatrick, Gawn getting 3 and 4 goals a game, good delivery.

Dawes said the 'silly' skill errors have to be eradicated, it is not brain surgery

The players are with you on the effort, so they are trying to make that more consistent as well

Maybe you believe it, but don't speak for 'lots of others'

The errors will fade away as the players get more games playing together

Just like port Adelaide.

He's become my new favourite player, I gotta say. Have loved the way he has been a real strong leader and positive presence around the club this year, especially in front of the media.

Compared to blokes like Moloney and McLean this guy is a 10x better leader.

Great to see him starting to get some fitness and touch on the field too.

I believe one of his grandparents was Sir John Moore Chief Justice some years ago of the Arbitration Commission.

As he's studying law maybe he wants to follow in granddad's footsteps.

Haha... You think he seemed all pumped and positive do you? Give me a break. He spoke well, I love Dawesy, lotta respect for him and he's a clever bloke, but he definitely seemed a bit weighed down.

To me he just seemed sick of discussing how and why the club was struggling. I noticed that when Sam began to talk about the Dees, I was expecting a jibe and I think Dawesy was too as his face contorted and looked as though he was getting pretty angry. Sam came out with some words of support though which was good.

When Garry pointed at Dawesy and said something along the lines of 'you boys had better play with some effort', that really annoyed me. Especially as he refuses to take any kind of responsibility with the club. Garry is fast becoming a grade A [censored].

Is he smart enough to know which way the wind is blowing?

I admire his stance tho.

Seems to have swallowed neelds excuse making mentality and stupid notion that we had a competitive game against the dorks, albeit a 100 point loss. I think he realized mid-sentence, how stupid that comment is, especially when both teams are being paid the same amount.

I just hope he dosnt drop his head once neeld is sacked.

Do you have a positive bone in your body?

Thank God for Neeld. Without him we probably wouldn't have Dawes or Clark.....just saying.

Edited June 6, 201312 yr by pm24

Forget the captaincy. This guy is future senior coach material.

To me he just seemed sick of discussing how and why the club was struggling. I noticed that when Sam began to talk about the Dees, I was expecting a jibe and I think Dawesy was too as his face contorted and looked as though he was getting pretty angry. Sam came out with some words of support though which was good.

When Garry pointed at Dawesy and said something along the lines of 'you boys had better play with some effort', that really annoyed me. Especially as he refuses to take any kind of responsibility with the club. Garry is fast becoming a grade A [censored].

What do you mean is becoming...he has been for a long time now.

If you go to training the skills are fine, it is under the pressure of a game with inexperienced players that the errors occur, which bit don't you understand, go and watch the young guys at Casey without the super pressure, hardly a missed target, why do you think Hogan, Fitzpatrick, Gawn getting 3 and 4 goals a game, good delivery.

Dawes said the 'silly' skill errors have to be eradicated, it is not brain surgery

The players are with you on the effort, so they are trying to make that more consistent as well

Maybe you believe it, but don't speak for 'lots of others'

I don't agree with the skills at training are fine. I went to 4-5 sessions over the preseason and skills were all over the shop. One session they were good the next poor. One set of drills they were fantastic, the next poor. One player would hit a target in a drill the same player would bounce it 4 feet in front the next time he had the ball. Skills need to improve and dramatically and have for a number of years. That has to sit with both coaches and players to improve Saty.

Thank God for Neeld. Without him we probably wouldn't have Dawes or Clark.....just saying.

Whilst this is true.... I get the gut feel that if Neeld is shown the door (now or later) that Dawes might crack it somewhat, he does seem very strongly aligned in Neelds corner.

That would be offset based on what might eventuate with a replacement coach, but as you rightly say Dawes came here because of Neeld and Leigh Brown selling it to him.

To me he just seemed sick of discussing how and why the club was struggling. I noticed that when Sam began to talk about the Dees, I was expecting a jibe and I think Dawesy was too as his face contorted and looked as though he was getting pretty angry. Sam came out with some words of support though which was good.

When Garry pointed at Dawesy and said something along the lines of 'you boys had better play with some effort', that really annoyed me. Especially as he refuses to take any kind of responsibility with the club. Garry is fast becoming a grade A [censored].

Good post.

By his presence and demeanour, he was able to change and manipulate the tone of the panel and the show.

The guy demands respect and last night, I thought he really got it.

I believe one of his grandparents was Sir John Moore Chief Justice some years ago of the Arbitration Commission.

As he's studying law maybe he wants to follow in granddad's footsteps.

Further, Dawes' father is (or was) a senior lecturer at Melb Uni and also runs a rare bookshop somewhere in Melbourne. Very interesting family.

Whilst this is true.... I get the gut feel that if Neeld is shown the door (now or later) that Dawes might crack it somewhat, he does seem very strongly aligned in Neelds corner.

That would be offset based on what might eventuate with a replacement coach, but as you rightly say Dawes came here because of Neeld and Leigh Brown selling it to him.

Don't take my post too seriously.....I was just being cheeky and baiting some of the Anti-Neeld people, which I probably shouldn't.

I don't agree with the skills at training are fine. I went to 4-5 sessions over the preseason and skills were all over the shop. One session they were good the next poor. One set of drills they were fantastic, the next poor. One player would hit a target in a drill the same player would bounce it 4 feet in front the next time he had the ball. Skills need to improve and dramatically and have for a number of years. That has to sit with both coaches and players to improve Saty.

It's training, I was inferring they practice and practice the skills, fail on game day, that's one of the joys going to watch Casey, last week, muddy and wet and still hitting targets, it is not the development of players as some think, it is the pressure and inexperience

It's training, I was inferring they practice and practice the skills, fail on game day, that's one of the joys going to watch Casey, last week, muddy and wet and still hitting targets, it is not the development of players as some think, it is the pressure and inexperience

I think we've seen evidence of the difference in the skills when we get chains of possession involving experienced players vs inexperienced players. I'm just thinking of the possession chain that was shown on the Craig report: First kick from Garland to Trengove, then Trengove to Joel Mac, Joel Mac to Bail, Bail to Davey and Davey into the forward 50. All of those players involved have been in the system for 4+ years now and played close to or over 50 games apiece. It was one of the cleanest passages of play all day for us.

Does anyone know where I can watch this? Missed the show last night. It doesn't look like channel 9 have the footy show as part of their 'catch-up tv' service.

Whilst this is true.... I get the gut feel that if Neeld is shown the door (now or later) that Dawes might crack it somewhat, he does seem very strongly aligned in Neelds corner.

That would be offset based on what might eventuate with a replacement coach, but as you rightly say Dawes came here because of Neeld and Leigh Brown selling it to him.

That's what all players should be like. Back the coach to the hilt. It's the division in the playing group that don't respect the coach that is causing our problem.

Either the players go or the coach goes, no in betweens.