Dawson Happy To Be Home

THE NEW RECRUIT

DAWSON HAPPY TO BE HOME.

For Jordan Dawson, returning to South Australia after six years in Sydney is a homecoming in more ways than one.

The 24-year-old who grew up in Robe in the state’s south east was also a passionate Crows supporter as a kid and that passion still remains.

So the opportunity to return to his home state and pull on the Adelaide jumper was too good to pass up which led to him requesting a trade from the Swans last year.

“Adelaide is obviously where I want to be and growing up I was a massive fan of the Crows,” Dawson said.

“I idolised Ricciuto and McLeod and to come through the Club and see all the greats on the wall, it just seemed a great fit for me and it has all been pretty surreal. “The lure to come back home was just too big to ignore, I love being back in SA and being able to go home (to Robe). “I did know living here before I got drafted how big AFL was and I’m enjoying it. I’m pumped already, I just want to get playing in front of the home crowd at Adelaide Oval.”

Dawson was drafted by Sydney from SANFL club Sturt with Pick No.56 in 2015 and has since played 64 games showcasing his versatility at either end of the ground and on the wing. Having completed his first pre-season with the Crows, Dawson said he had well and truly settled in to his new surrounds.

“The boys have been really good helping me settle in and get up to speed with the gameplan, and meeting everyone and getting used to different things on and off the field, everyone has been very welcoming,” he said.

“All pre-seasons at all clubs I imagine are a tough time of year, Sydney and Adelaide are pretty similar with younger lists so coming here I was expecting to be put through my paces and Burgo (Darren Burgess) hasn’t let me down there. “Everyone is hungry and driven and that’s the main thing, everyone has come in and wants to work and even Burgo said the running numbers and stuff like that he’s been impressed by and I have as well. We’re a fit group, it’s just nailing the footy side of things now.”

While Dawson hopes to spend some time in Adelaide’s midfield this year, he is more than happy playing wherever coach Matthew Nicks puts him.

“Talking to the coaches there’s a lot of different roles they see me being able to play and I’m comfortable playing wherever the team needs me, that’s been my mentality the last few years,” he said.

“In and ideal world I probably play a bit of wing, inside and even half-forward, who knows, I just try to be flexible and it’s a bit of a cliché but wherever the team needs me.

“Personally I think flexibility is key and being able to adapt in games is one of my strengths, and not being set is a benefit to me and the team.”

Dawson said he had already developed a good rapport with Nicks and had been impressed by some of Adelaide’s emerging young players. “He’s (Nicks) been really good, he’s clear on what he wants me to do and where he sees me playing,” he said.

“We’ve built a really good relationship and he has high expectations for the group to improve and so do I, so a lot of players and staff are on the same page which is ideal.” “Guys like Riley Thilthorpe and Ned McHenry – their appetite for work. Riley it’s no surprise he’s this good already because he puts work into everything he does, and Ned from what I’ve heard has taken his game to another level and his voice and energy is a standout on the track. “Also Josh Rachele has come into the Club and looks physically ready to play and shows good signs. “Everyone trains and plays to play finals, you’re not in the right business if you’re not wanting to play finals, but for us it’s about improving every session, and from what I’ve heard and even from the start of pre-season we’ve made some good strides in both offence and defence, so it’s exciting.”