What a pickup this bloke has been!

coming from a family of Collingwood members and so on they never really rated him as a player, so I was quite unsure when he was recruited

but they have all changed their tune now

one of the best forwards in the comp at the minute, his value to the team is impossible to measure, leadership, off the ball unrewarded running and work, multiple leads, fantastic influence

in my opinion he would be next in line to be captain after Jones and Grimes

Heard someone the other day refer to him as General Dawes after the way he goes about his footy, direction/energy to other players and his leadership.

Couldn't agree anymore and what a role model for Hogan.

Heard someone the other day refer to him as General Dawes after the way he goes about his footy, direction/energy to other players and his leadership.

Couldn't agree anymore and what a role model for Hogan.

absolutely, and I think he is the type of player who is going to be a fantastic on field coach, when he and Hogan are down there together I think our scores will improve by at least 4 goals a game which based on our season so far probably equals 4-5 wins that we have missed by that margin so far.

Just viewed today's media conference on DeeTV : Media conference: Chris Dawes

He had them 'eating out of his hand'.

I must be the only person in Australia who was on board with the Chris Dawes trade from the very beginning.

I must be the only person in Australia who was on board with the Chris Dawes trade from the very beginning.

Well done Chook (not being sarcastic - I mean it). Speaking with a mate who is a well-informed member of the football industry (by definition not a journalist), the general consensus was that Dawes went to Melbourne because no-one else wanted him. Classic case of 'group-think' getting it wrong. Lucky for us.

I must be the only person in Australia who was on board with the Chris Dawes trade from the very beginning.

Me too !! In fact when originally drafted - 2006 #28 - had he not been coming straight off a TAC knee reco I may have put him ahead of Chip.

PS: I doubt if he will "do a Goddard" and shed tears when we kill the Pies Monday :-))

Me too !!

PS: I doubt if he will "do a Goddard" and shed tears when we kill the Pies Monday :-))

tears of joy maybe? I reckon a few of the boys will be pretty stoked after we belt them.

Just viewed today's media conference on DeeTV : Media conference: Chris Dawes

He had them 'eating out of his hand'.

I was hoping the 2 minutes 30 seconds of blank at the end of the video had a Dawesy hidden track ..

... maybe that's reserved for his highlight reel come Monday.

I think he always handles the media in such a poised, professional way. So glad he plays for the Dees. Having watched him as a junior in the Bayside area, I always thought he was destined for the big time.

I must be the only person in Australia who was on board with the Chris Dawes trade from the very beginning.

I was there.

Well done Chook (not being sarcastic - I mean it). Speaking with a mate who is a well-informed member of the football industry (by definition not a journalist), the general consensus was that Dawes went to Melbourne because no-one else wanted him. Classic case of 'group-think' getting it wrong. Lucky for us.

Bulldogs after him too.

I must be the only person in Australia who was on board with the Chris Dawes trade from the very beginning.

hey hey hey - there is room on the chair for me too buddy - I loved him at the Collingwood and was gung ho from day one

edit - and shouted it loudly on here.

Seriously though - it is outstanding the love for a bloke who doesn't clunk too many marks or kick bags full of goals. Its all the little team things that he brings to the table.

Bulldogs after him too.

In fact I was very disappointed as the day before he declared that he wanted to go to Melbourne there was report in the paper ( trade rumour file) that the "deal" was done with the doggies.

In fact I was very disappointed as the day before he declared that he wanted to go to Melbourne there was report in the paper ( trade rumour file) that the "deal" was done with the doggies.

I was told the offer from the doggies was very similar in terms of dollars, and the trade was pick 20 from us and pick 21 from them, Neeld probably got the deal over the line in the end.

I was told the offer from the doggies was very similar in terms of dollars, and the trade was pick 20 from us and pick 21 from them, Neeld probably got the deal over the line in the end.

Dawes has claimed that a combination of Neeld as coach, the idea of playing alongside Mitch Clark and playing a non-rucking forward role were the reasons he chose the MFC.

I must be the only person in Australia who was on board with the Chris Dawes trade from the very beginning.

Don't know about that, I was pretty happy to get him, as we're many others.

Dawes has claimed that a combination of Neeld as coach, the idea of playing alongside Mitch Clark and playing a non-rucking forward role were the reasons he chose the MFC.

It interesting that only one of those factors has actually turned out to be the case.

Did Dawes and Clark ever play a game together? If so, I can't recall it.

Did Dawes and Clark ever play a game together? If so, I can't recall it.

Nope.

I don't usually speak in superlatives when describing a football players interview/media performance: but the way Chris spoke and his intelligent responses to questions is as good as I have ever seen from ANY sportsman. We've got an A grade commodity here - even if he never played another game, you can just tell he would be a great coach. But that's just wishful thinking - he will probably end up being another Galbally if he continues his law studies...

I was hoping the 2 minutes 30 seconds of blank at the end of the video had a Dawesy hidden track ..

... maybe that's reserved for his highlight reel come Monday.

I hope that 2'30" is not nearly enough time for his highlight reel :-)

What a fantastic young man - articulate and poised.

PS: Will whoever does these Q&A sessions PLEEEEASE give the questioner a bloody microphone. This always is just an answer session.

Is it AFL or Telstra that are so bloody incompetent?

I don't usually speak in superlatives when describing a football players interview/media performance: but the way Chris spoke and his intelligent responses to questions is as good as I have ever seen from ANY sportsman. We've got an A grade commodity here - even if he never played another game, you can just tell he would be a great coach. But that's just wishful thinking - he will probably end up being another Galbally if he continues his law studies...

Future AFL senior coach, no doubt (as I've said many times before).

Class act. Should have been on "On the Couch" instead of Wattsy.

I'm a big Watts fan but Chris would have represented us better and been a lot more interesting. I also reckon Jack should stop doing interviews like that and just concentrate on footy.

Just wanted to say I'm in Italy now having a Campari and soda. Oh and I think Dawes has been one of the best 3 things to happen to Melbourne in the last 2 years.

GOOOOOOO. DEEEEEEEEEES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Class act. Should have been on "On the Couch" instead of Wattsy.

I'm a big Watts fan but Chris would have represented us better and been a lot more interesting. I also reckon Jack should stop doing interviews like that and just concentrate on footy.

You are out of touch with reality here B-Bob. Successful footballers need to be able to perform both on the field and off the field – ie in the media.. Not only is it a path to personal development but it also provides an opportunity for players to put their hands up for a future media career. Do we deny Jack this opportunity?

Besides, even you must realise that such appearances are club sanctioned.