Since our win over the Crows, people keep coming up to me saying how good Chris Dawes was on the weekend, and ive been feeling nothing but man love for the bloke.

With Clark retired and Hogan injured, there was always one guy we really desperately needed to step up and lead us up forward and chris has come to the party in spades.

Its no coincidence we started improving dramatically since he came back on board, and its great to see he is over his niggling injuries that have plagued him since his last couple of seasons at collingwood.

Hope he keeps going as he is super important to us , especially when he is in that fired up mood...it just lifts the whole side.

Since our win over the Crows, people keep coming up to me saying how good Chris Dawes was on the weekend, and ive been feeling nothing but man love for the bloke.

With Clark retired and Hogan injured, there was always one guy we really desperately needed to step up and lead us up forward and chris has come to the party in spades.

Its no coincidence we started improving dramatically since he came back on board, and its great to see he is over his niggling injuries that have plagued him since his last couple of seasons at collingwood.

Hope he keeps going as he is super important to us , especially when he is in that fired up mood...it just lifts the whole side.

Agree 100%!

When he's on the park he gives his all....chases....1%ers....you name it. Against the Crows.... simply put...he was outstanding IMO.

Can really move quickly for a big unit too!

I remember going to watch him for the first time - didn't set the world on fire stats wise but you could just tell he was a leader (sitting high up in the G). Big presence on the ground and does all the 1%ers.

Many lost faith in the big fella but with an injury free year and Hogan by his side we could have a dangerous forward line (pity - Clark, Dawes, Hogan would have been the forward line of the century)

And how about that tackle in the 3rd QTR....

MAN CRUSH

Best part about him being so honest in his appraisals, especially when talking to the media, is that he has to go out there and back it up, which he is clearly doing.

We have wanted our actions to speak louder than words for so long, finally it's happening in the way we hoped.

Thank/s Chris/t.

I've loved his effort from the start.

I did start to question whether he'd ever string 3 quarters together again though, let alone 3 games.

When Clark burst onto the scene he was an instant hit, (how I wish we had both of them running around)

Dawesy has had to win a few over the hard way. But I doubt there's any Dees fans that don't love him now.

In a way he's picked up where Clark left off, that big, commanding presence up front that makes the players around him stand taller.

His game on the weekend was the best he's ever played, he played some excellent games for Collingwood, but that was a premiership team at their peak, playing for us is a different story, and he dominated in a hostile arena.

His chasing and tackling/bumping have been consistent, and his grabs and goals have been pivotal in our wins.

He along with Viney have made us a much more physically challenging side, and I [censored] love that.

loved him at Collingwood and so happy when we got him. His work without the ball is super impressive. Such a leader.

My only knock was whether we could get him on the park.

I remember going to watch him for the first time - didn't set the world on fire stats wise but you could just tell he was a leader (sitting high up in the G). Big presence on the ground and does all the 1%ers.

Many lost faith in the big fella but with an injury free year and Hogan by his side we could have a dangerous forward line (pity - Clark, Dawes, Hogan would have been the forward line of the century)

I've felt sometimes over the past two years how bad are players are due to lack of skills and speed etc but its when you watch a guy like Dawes that you realise how those things are only part of being a good AFL player and how important just having a crack and full on effort is.

Clark's goals were amazing but it was his effort that stood out more than anything.

Now with a few more like Viney, Cross and most of the backline you can see that once you out work the other side it becomes so much easier to play skilled footy and look good.

I'm glad Dawes is getting lots of praise. And I also think that if we can keep improving and get Hogan and a few other young forwards playing good footy that in the not too distant future we will get some exciting attacking performances. If we kept the pace of attack up from the fist half against Adelaide we could've kicked 14 goals. Whilst not amazing on the Hawthorn level that would've been a pretty exciting day for us fans.

He along with Viney have made us a much more physically challenging side, and I [censored] love that.

Daniel Cross too.

Was absolutely stoked when Neeld got him across...Filth supporters were dark on Buckley at the time, might still be.

Dawes does so much that you can't measure with stats or dream team points

on field verbal and physical leadership

3-4 leads at a time, gut running

setting an example at training

footy brains and premiership experience, re-enforcing we are on the right track.

Was absolutely stoked when Neeld got him across...Filth supporters were dark on Buckley at the time, might still be.

I remember quite a few demonlanders thought we paid overs (think it was pick 20) maybe it was but thank god we did given Clark and Hogan.

I remember quite a few demonlanders thought we paid overs (think it was pick 20) maybe it was but thank god we did given Clark and Hogan.

Herein lies the problem - you may pick up a not wanted from another club cheap - but quality will cost you overs - its the way of the world

Must confess I didn't know much about him when he was at Collingwood, so I was neither here nor there if we got him, but I'm a real convert and if you could have 3 Captains I'd want him to be the third. He's like a nastier version of Neita.

It breaks your heart when you see Mitch at training knowing he will never play for us again and to have Jesse out injured is a double whammy.

17 pressure acts and a swag of contested footy - fantastic return for a KPF.

And that tackle was brutal.

He breaks ribs with his smothers.

I deserve evert bit of this humble pie I am munging on. I have never question his ability but more of his body in whether it could last 5 games.

He looks fit and even more huge!

I thought last year he came to the club in poor shape whereas this year he has trimmed right down and looked alot cut then ever before.

Keep it up Dawesy!

WTF! He's still not up on our banner.

. I have never question his ability but more of his body in whether it could last 5 games.

I think that was most peoples concern.

Glad he's in the leadership group - not being there would be a travesty

And how about that tackle in the 3rd QTR....

MAN CRUSH

Wait, are you saying the tackle gave you a man crush … or the tackle crushed a man?

(Both answers are correct…)

Herein lies the problem - you may pick up a not wanted from another club cheap - but quality will cost you overs - its the way of the world

Pick 20 is not overs for Chris Dawes. You have to go back to 2009 to find a pick between 20-25 that is clearly superior to Dawes - and that's Fyfe, who is one of those "unpredictable freaks". People consistently overrate draft picks that will find a kid with promise who'll play 3 seasons, 50 games, and then get delisted. 20 for Dawes was a good deal.

I humbly admit to being wrong. I didn't want him at the club when he was at The Filth. Thought he was being spoon fed by a very good midfield in 2010. Didn't see his strength, tank, determination and leadership qualities. Now I see the light. He's a real gem.

I went to Casey once when he was playing and wasn't particularly impressed with his game. I later learned he was playing injured - again. But when I went to the quarter time huddle he was an imposing, angry, dominant leader who looked people in the eye and took no prisoners. I have been a fan since then. But over the past 4 weeks the respect has built further due to his intensity, effort and presence. Very impressed.

Needs to be included on the Demonland banner asap. Potentially next to Paul Roos.