Jordan Dawson arrived at Adelaide 18 months in the past as a highly-rated rebounding defender with one of many AFL’s most polished kicks.
Now, he’s the Crows’ captain inspiring a shock surge — and a “complete player”, in accordance with a teammate, due to a shrewd teaching transfer.
Dawson on Thursday evening starred as a midfielder for the third consecutive week. He completed with 32 disposals, 11 rating involvements, 10 contested possessions, 10 inside 50s, 9 tackles and 7 clearances in Adelaide’s 56-point thrashing of Carlton.
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Just as importantly, Dawson helped set the tone for his aspect throughout its eight-goal opening-quarter blitz, racking up 13 disposals for the time period.
“He’s a complete player,” Crows teammate Reilly O’Brien informed foxfooty.com.au post-game on Thursday evening.
“He’s got his inside work going. He’s added that to his game in the midfield to go with his ball use, which is just unbelievable. But then he also has the ability to pressure opposition and attack the ball as good as anyone.
“Probably the thing that stands out is his will to win. He’s a super competitive guy and he just wants team success. Ever since he got here, it’s really stood out. He gets pretty p***ed off watching other teams win and go well, so he just drives the group and does everything he can to drive the group to be a winning team and, I guess, win premierships.”
The Crows in 2021 gave up a first-round decide to accumulate Dawson, who arrived on the membership as one of many league’s most versatile flankers. But few Adelaide followers would’ve predicted the left-footer to turn out to be their subsequent star on-baller, which has come to fruition throughout the membership’s previous three wins
Few, if any, big-bodied midfielders within the competitors can win the arduous ball on the within and be simply as efficient and influential with their pinpoint disposal on the skin. But Dawson can try this – and extra.
“The reason ‘Daws’ is in there was really to complete our game,” Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks informed reporters post-game. “We had some issues in the first couple of rounds in particular areas and Jordan moving was more about those issues. I don’t want to go into too much detail on that, but we’ve improved our intercept game out of sight … Jordy has a lot to do with that.
“He’s a very balanced player, very aware, sees the game, plays ahead of the game and he’s an on-field leader. So a position for him in the midfield allows him to do that at another level than what he does when he’s behind the ball.”
Former captain Rory Sloane has additionally spent extra time on the ball in latest weeks, including to the completely different midfield dynamic at Adelaide.
“We’ve had a bit more experience through that midfield and it’s been awesome,” O’Brien stated. “We haven’t given our opponents clean exits out of stoppage, we’re winning the ball a lot more around there.
“Daws, I mean some of his inside 50 entries tonight in that first quarter were just amazing. He’s just gone from strength to strength. He’s such a good player to have in there.”
Jordan Triple Coleman Medallist Jason Dunstall stated it was “frightening” how effectively Dawson delivers the ball by foot.
“How are you going to get him out of the midfield when he’s playing like this? You can’t possibly move him,” Dunstall informed Fox Footy.
Dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna added: “He really set that game up.”
“You want the ball in his hands. They are looking for him and when he gets it, something good happens nearly every time.”
Asked if he was within the All-Australian combine, Montagna stated: “Oh 100 per cent. That’s three weeks in a row you could argue he’s been best on ground. That’s red-hot form.”
O’Brien stated Dawson was main a harmonious group who’ve proven sturdy defensive enchancment.
“Our forward line at the moment is just so potent. It’s just awesome having weapons like ‘Fog’ (Darcy Fogarty), ‘Filthy’ (Riley Thilthorpe), ‘Tex’ (Taylor Walker), ‘Rash’ (Josh Rachele), ‘Ranks’ (Izak Rankine) and then even guys like ‘Murph’ (Lachie Murphy) and ‘Neddy’ (Ned McHenry) – it’s been awesome. They’re clicking really well and putting big scores on the board,” O’Brien stated.
“But probably the thing that’s really improved in the last couple of weeks that’s won us the game has been our defence. We’ve kept teams to low scores – that’s been the big focus.
“Tonight I think our defenders were awesome. They’ve got a great forward line with Curnow and McKay down there and plenty of dangerous small forwards, but they just did an awesome job. They saved us a few times.
“The whole team, it’s feeling really good at the moment.”
Originally revealed as Inside the ‘frightening’ rise of AFL’s latest celebrity
Source: www.news.com.au
