Where does Chris Dawes fit in all this?

[John Crow Batty 8,878]

All I can is, its a long punishing season. Injuries will occur. And if we are to have success we need players like him to fill holes until the younger hopefulls develop. We are lucky to have someone that can walk straight into a key  position.  I bet Freo would like to have someone like him now.

Edited April 28, 2016 by america de cali

[Steve13 457]

Dawes at his best is in the 22, if he can get back to that is an entirely different question. What he does provide though is depth, which for the first time in recent memory we have in almost every position (ruck being the exception) A fit and fiering Dawes keeps pressure on Pedo/Frost and allows Wiederman to develop his craft at Casey 

[watchtheeyes 1,422]

If he can bring the same kind of defensive pressure as frost, which he has done in the past sans speed, then he is an upgrade.

Pedersens marking ability is valuable, but we haven't seen a lot of consistency from him.

[Juicebox 628]

So far this year:

Goals: Frost - 2   Pedersen - 2

Hitouts: Frost - 1   Pedersen - 15

I think it's definitely possible for Dawes to work his way back into the team...

 

[Guest]

Oh no.... See what you have done now dazzle? Stuie has another chance to revive his #dawes/pedomyths hashtag (did he seriously expect that to take off? )

Regarding the question at hand, I'm not opposed to him coming back but there would have to be two of three conditions met for him to do so:

1) Pedo loses form. 

2) Dawes gains form.

3) team is losing games

As Deng Xiaoping said 'It doesn't matter if it is a white cat or a black cat, so long as it catches mice. ' I just want the players to play their roles and win games. Personalities or styles are irrelevant as far as I'm concerned. 

[leave it to deever 17,517]

Its a good question. In my humble opinion barring injuries, Dawes will be lucky to take his spot again.

Pederson has stepped up and while I think he needs to kick more goals, he is a player that takes a strong grab and can be played in defence. He has been involved in many goal assists.

Dawes has cost us a lot of $ and I don't believe he warrants it anymore. 

 

 

[Moonshadow 17,676]

The old grey mare he ain't what he used to be......

Amongst his best assets were his ability to run all day and present. With a dodgy calf and little match practice, that ability might be compromised. 

Has he had a transplant for his concrete hands?

[drdrake 3,185]

Was thinking about this the other night.  I still think he has a spot as that second tall back up ruckman.  He is a better forward than Pederson and Frost, and I think once fit 4 weeks at Casey you will find he comes in for the back half of the season, which is great to have a big strong forward that will be fresh and wanting to prove a point for the run home.

[H_T 3,049]

Dawes will still be serviceable when required. When he is fit and firing, he will fit in. Some view him as a square peg trying to fit in a round hole in this side. But he will be required at some stage, that's just footy. Injuries (touch wood) will occur from time to time, players need to rest niggles time to time to get them right. 

Depth is good.

[stuie 7,374]

2 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Dawes hasn't exactly cemented for 3 years either.

He's played every game when fit and hasn't been dropped.

Not sure you grasp the concept of cementing a spot if you don't think that is...

[iv'a worn smith 1,979]

Jesse will be at his best, if Dawes is in the side, fit and taking one of the bigger bodied backs.  How's that for some alliteration?

[Skuit 10,031]

Like Lumumba of pre-season, I think it's fair that some players receive another opportunity to see how they fit with or adapt to the revision in our game-plan along with the better spread and disposal skills. Our forward line also feels to be collectively lacking in goal-kicking ability from distance which could become a factor if teams decide to counter with additional flooding.

[rpfc 28,727]

I don't think it is crucial and he is near the end of his career but I am interested to see whether he can bring more than Pedersen and/or Frost.

[Outside fifty 967]

I was at the training session when Dawes did his most recent calf injury. Prior to that injury occurring I remember thinking that he was a standout on the day. Even with his concrete mitts he was clunking them. I really felt for the guy when he blew up because this was by far the best that I had ever seen him train, and I have seen my fair share of training sessions.

[poita 3,902]

He doesn't fit in. The game has gone well past him, this team has gone past him, and he should be quietly put out to pasture at the end of this season. The last thing we need is Dawes running into Hogan or drawing the football away from Watts in his current form. The best place for Dawes, if ever gets his body right, is educating and taking pressure off Weideman and Hulett at Casey.

[Sir Why You Little 37,119]

He is coming from a long way back. But i still reckon Dawesy could be a great assett in the back half of the year

He is big and strong. If we are fighting for the 8 that could be very usefull xx

[rjay 25,061]

1 hour ago, iv'a worn smith said:

Jesse will be at his best, if Dawes is in the side, fit and taking one of the bigger bodied backs.  How's that for some alliteration?

Trouble is he didn't.

The opposition knew Jesse was the man and Dawes the decoy, they pushed back on Jesse knowing Dawes was not a threat.

[mrtwister 652]

3 hours ago, Deestar9 said:

We are nowhere near a Premiership side.  If Chris Dawes gets his body right (& finally he has the luxury of being able to do that) I would have a premiership player with a fantastic footy brain & an amazing appetite for the footy in my side any day of the week.  And...I bet any small forward or indeed forward at Melbourne would echo that sentiment 

From what I've seen of Dawes at MFC, I think he has a great off-field footy brain but on-field it seems to be hijacked by impulsivity.

[What 18,810]

He cant ruck

Would take Pedders and Frost ahead of him all day

[dazzledavey36 55,311]

1 hour ago, stuie said:

He's played every game when fit and hasn't been dropped.

Not sure you grasp the concept of cementing a spot if you don't think that is...

He hasn't cemented because a spot because of injury and body just simply won't allow him to perform for 22 rounds.

If Pederson and Frost keep their form up he will just be a back up if one goes down. 

His only benefit to the team is educating Weideman and Hulett down at Casey.

 

I

[Its Time for Another 4,283]

I don't think there's a definite answer at this point. But I would say this :-

1. Dawes best is better than what Pedersen and Frost have shown this season. Can he get back to his best? We won't know that till he's played a few games at Casey.

2. Pedersen has all the capabilities, good contested mark, agility, run but just doesn't seem to be able to play for 4 quarters. He always goes missing. He also tends to get the yips in front of goal.

3. Frost is definitely improving week by week but he is a very raw, young, long term prospect. Probably a backman being forced to play forward for the time being. He can't kick a set shot to save himself and nowadays you can't carry players like that. He also is a long way off getting involved enough in the play. He's still learning how to play the game. We've been lucky we've had the luxury of carrying him so far this season while he learns on the job.

I don't see it being a Dawes for Pedersen choice. I think it's more likely to be Dawes for Frost. 

[stuie 7,374]

1 minute ago, dazzledavey36 said:

He hasn't cemented because a spot because of injury and body just simply won't allow him to perform for 22 rounds.

If Pederson and Frost keep their form up he will just be a back up if one goes down. 

His only benefit to the team is educating Weideman and Hulett down at Casey.

 

I

You were talking about the past not the future, saying he hadn't cemented a spot for 3 years. That is factually incorrect as he's played 100% of the games he's been fit for.

 

[dazzledavey36 55,311]

1 minute ago, stuie said:

You were talking about the past not the future, saying he hadn't cemented a spot for 3 years. That is factually incorrect as he's played 100% of the games he's been fit for.

 

If we are talking about Future then i personally can't see him doing much at all this year. 

In saying that Frost and Pedersen have to keep their form up and Dawes has to bang the door down at Casey to get a game.

[drdrake 3,185]

I laugh about he can't ruck comments, neither can Pederson or Frost.

[stuie 7,374]

5 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

If we are talking about Future then i personally can't see him doing much at all this year. 

In saying that Frost and Pedersen have to keep their form up and Dawes has to bang the door down at Casey to get a game.

The future and the past are different things though. He clearly has cemented a spot in the past, but with Frost and Pedersen both showing improved form and the team performing well overall it will be harder for him to break into the 22 in the future.