2 minutes ago, Chris said:

Just a pity his body didn't allow him to do it more often. 

Or his hands

Let's just wait until this is officially announced by the club before we go down this path.  It's a respect thing.

Thanks Chris. Your heart and efforts were in the right place. Just didn't work out as we all wished. Best of luck. Always welcome at Melbourne. Cheers

Just needs one good pre season

8 minutes ago, Uncle Fester said:

Just needs one good pre season

This ain't the Colin Sylvia thread bro.

Thanks for your services Dawesy, I'm sure you hoped for it to work out better and I have no doubt your legacy off the field will provide a wealth of knowledge and benefit in our future 

I'm of the belief that a truly great footy club leaves the players who pass through it's doors (no pun intended) as better citizens. Yes, it doesn't always go that way. i.e. Sylvia However, Chris Dawes is intelligent and articulate and conducts himself incredibly well. Did he succeed at Melbourne? Not really but you would hope and suspect that he will leave the club as a young man with a bright future and better for his experience as a top-line sportsman.

 

Has there been official confirmation of this?

I watched Chris at many a pre season training session and the way he took it upon himself to impart his experience and wisdom on the younger brigade was exceptional, whilst at the same time struggling individually with injury and form. A quality individual. All the best Chris.

No official confirmation as yet.

If only he developed his rucking skills , but it was something he never wanted to do and was eventually  his downfall .

He couldn't survive as a pure forward because he simply didn't take enough marks or kick enough goals .

Great work ethic, but couldn't play the role desperately needed at the club.

his experience and knowledge he handed down was valuable. Could very much go into a coaching/support role, but i think he is destined for lawyer ville. 

but sadly, at the end of the day if you are a key forward who can't take a mark that's not a chest mark, you will struggle.

Chris Dawes is a somewhat limited footballer but a ripping bloke that gave his all to our club at a very much needed time.

He provided much-needed leadership off field, pushed strong training habits and on-field leadership in terms of his tackling, pressure acts, development of younger players as well as providing much needed physical support.

If he is let go I will be saddened for him as a person and wish him nothing but good will and respect.

Good bloke and I'll always remember that game in Adelaide. 

 

Collingwood need a Cloke replacement... 

So not offical? Jumping the gun don't we think?

3 hours ago, Return to Glory said:

I'm of the belief that a truly great footy club leaves the players who pass through it's doors (no pun intended) as better citizens. Yes, it doesn't always go that way. i.e. Sylvia However, Chris Dawes is intelligent and articulate and conducts himself incredibly well. Did he succeed at Melbourne? Not really but you would hope and suspect that he will leave the club as a young man with a bright future and better for his experience as a top-line sportsman.

 

But isn't he studying to be a lawyer? 

May not have been a great on field performer for the most part, but his off field presence, professionalism towards training and his effort/voice and leadership on the park (when he did make it) helped turn the culture of the club around from the dark years following 186. I can't recall too many, other than the flash in his prime, running down/chasing/pressuring opponent defenders in our forward line pre Dawesy.

I recall one particular speech post match day where he jumped in and cut Neeldy off on the "effort" comment saying that "coaches shouldn't have to coach effort, that's on the players" as being one of the rare noteworthy moments in the horrible year that was 2012. I would attribute him and Crossy as being significant in pointing our culture compass In a northerly direction on the huge J curve that was the (ugly) 'pre-Roos' MFC.

A big thank you to this bloke (and any others eg, Crossy) for choosing to come over to what was then a complete basket case and helping turn the culture around.

Crossy had much more impact on the field of course and was on it far more often, but I tips me hat to both these fellas and any other reasonable players (eg, Dunny) who stayed the course over this period and gave it their all (regardless of talent/injury woes).

Thank you Chris. I wish you and family all the very best in life and all future pursuits outside of AFL (or in it if you land a contract) from here. Hopefully you remain at the MFC in some professional capacity off the field (if no contract is offered).

Edited October 20, 20169 yr by Rusty Nails

On 24/08/2016 at 4:12 AM, TheOxWhisperer said:

admittedly he is not the most skillful guy in the country, but with a full pre season, young list and susceptibility of some blokes to play like wet [censored] socks, what harm is there to offer a bloke with some ticker and finals experience a reduced deal for one year and see if he can get back to playing servicible footy. 

 

I can defiantly see why we would let him go too, though don't you think a guy who left a recent premier, came to a basket case and gave his all throughout deserves a little more respect than sneering comments about playing in (insert [censored] country team here)? 

 

yes watts has more upside and is a better player, but I'm defiantly more appreciative of dawesies 2013-15 than I am of jacks. If you could combine watts talent and durability with Dawes ability to consistently have a red hot crack we would have just about the best player in the league.

 

all I'm saying is get of your high horse and show the bloke some gratitude and respect.

Defiantly? Do you mean definitely?

Dawes has now almost finished the law degree that Melbourne football club paid for through his refusal to retire and acceptance of a contract that he was unable to fulfill by playing any decent footy. He's not the great leader that some on here say. He didn't provide any sort of leadership on field which is the only sort a currently playing footballer can provide. He dropped most marks, kicked very poorly and was injured most of the time. His blatantly stupid comments in the media the week before MFC played Hawthorn beggared belief and made him look extremely foolish when Hawthorn thrashed Melbourne. Collingwood fans are laughing at us.

19 minutes ago, Diamond said:

Defiantly? Do you mean definitely?

Dawes has now almost finished the law degree that Melbourne football club paid for through his refusal to retire and acceptance of a contract that he was unable to fulfill by playing any decent footy. He's not the great leader that some on here say. He didn't provide any sort of leadership on field which is the only sort a currently playing footballer can provide. He dropped most marks, kicked very poorly and was injured most of the time. His blatantly stupid comments in the media the week before MFC played Hawthorn beggared belief and made him look extremely foolish when Hawthorn thrashed Melbourne. Collingwood fans are laughing at us.

I must remember not to ask you to deliver my eulogy.

 

I must remember not to ask you to deliver my eulogy.

Sorry to hear that you are unwell.

Oh good a thread that contains comments from posters who were never close to being good enough at footy to even have a chance at getting on a list, making pithy comments about a player who has a premiership medallion, something most of us could only dream about

He came, he tried, he gave his all, thanks Chris for your efforts if your time is up at MFC

 

He came, he tried, he gave his all, thanks Chris for your efforts if your time is up at MFC

I have never understood the need for vitriol directed at players.

Chris Dawes can be critiqued. It was a trade that definitely didn't work for us and I don't believe he should be offered a further contract. You can ever be objective and point to his body fragility and his lack of impact or marking ability on the field. I suspect Dawes himself would not disagree with the critique.

But the need to denigrate a player ? i just don't get it. 

 

I have never understood the need for vitriol directed at players.

Chris Dawes can be critiqued. It was a trade that definitely didn't work for us and I don't believe he should be offered a further contract. You can ever be objective and point to his body fragility and his lack of impact or marking ability on the field. I suspect Dawes himself would not disagree with the critique.

But the need to denigrate a player ? i just don't get it. 

Agree its realy poor form and immaturity

Thanks for beating Carlton and Adelaide in 2014. 

 

Aaaaaaaannnnnd that's it!

Stood up in our darkest hours, body failed him! Go be a lawyer and make real money!!

Any official word yet? 

 

I have never understood the need for vitriol directed at players.

Chris Dawes can be critiqued. It was a trade that definitely didn't work for us and I don't believe he should be offered a further contract. You can ever be objective and point to his body fragility and his lack of impact or marking ability on the field. I suspect Dawes himself would not disagree with the critique.

But the need to denigrate a player ? i just don't get it. 

Disrespecting and degrading players says a whole lot more about the poster than the player it's directed at.