Player Watch #18: Wil 'Shotgun' Dawson - Extends to end of 2026

[Chadwiko]

Can't have been any worse than some of the performances that crew have put in at times this year.

And yet...

 

[Ardent Roo]

And yet...

You keep holding that torch for Pinky Chadster.

You come across like you think our backline is akin to Collins - Langford - Ayres.

F*** me Corr, Pink, CCJ are all terrible.

 

[Chadwiko]

You keep holding that torch for Pinky Chadster.

Seriously got nothing to do with Pink
Have you actually watched Dawson in the VFL this year? I'm genuinely asking.

He looks a long way off.

He's young. There's time. But yeah...

 

[King Corey]

You keep holding that torch for Pinky Chadster.

You come across like you think our backline is akin to Collins - Langford - Ayres.

F*** me Corr, Pink, CCJ are all terrible.

This logic is akin to quitting your job because you "heard" there are other jobs out there.

 

[Ardent Roo]

Seriously got nothing to do with Pink
Have you actually watched Dawson in the VFL this year? I'm genuinely asking.

He looks a long way off.

He's young. There's time. But yeah...

He might look a long way off but wowsers Pink, Corr and CCJ are further.

 

[Ardent Roo]

This logic is akin to quitting your job because you "heard" there are other jobs out there.

It's actually more akin to staying with your current shitty job rather than be bothered moving to another job which may be better.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Got mentioned on gettable the last few weeks, anyone know where his contract negotiations are sitting?

Would a club offer us a second rounder?

Probably the only way to get value would be a similar developing young player swap

 

[Devski]

Gotta love this board. The same people who want to “develop” Goad in the VFL for the next 5 years are the same people who would write off Dawson.

 

[Dinkers]

If you're not a 100% certified spud, a certain poster will question the validity of a players worth. ie Wardlaw, Dawson, Duursma and Xerri. I've probably missed a few.

Anyone remember how a certain poser said Wil Philip knocked back a 2 year deal with Geelong to stay with us for 12 months.

FFS, FML and FMD!

 

[chubbspeterson]

I wonder whether word has leaked out. Hopefully he gets a run as the season goes on and it’s all forgotten.

I doubt Will wants to leave, but teams may have asked the question of his manager.
Mostly it's just because 1st round draftee not in AFL team = might be gettable.
He should work his way into the team if he plays a little better at VFL level.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

If he continues his development and is looking for job security and opportunities, then he’d be silly to go elsewhere, as we have the worst Key defender stocks in the league.

There is a full back role there for the taking, he just has to hide his time, grow his body and develop his game.

 

[Moti]

Seriously got nothing to do with Pink
Have you actually watched Dawson in the VFL this year? I'm genuinely asking.

He looks a long way off.

He's young. There's time. But yeah...

I don't think he looks a long way off but at some point, pumping games into a bunch of guys on the wrong side of 25 is just going to hamstring the side. We need to see what Dawson can do in an AFL environment this year because it will very much drive our off season planning. Whitlock too.

 

[disco_cowboy]

Chadwiko what type of defender is he, what is the biggest area of opportunity.
i haven't watched enough VFL this year.

 

[Passmore]

I doubt Will wants to leave, but teams may have asked the question of his manager.
Mostly it's just because 1st round draftee not in AFL team = might be gettable.
He should work his way into the team if he plays a little better at VFL level.

Clubs would be asking the question on dozens of players. Doesn't mean they take up the offer.

Contrary to popular opinion, I'm sure we're doing the same.

 

[Frank Thring]

I've watched a fair bit of Dawson and sometimes you can see the potential and then other times, well he doesn't. He has the physical attributes, he's mobile enough and has aggression but I am concerned he lacks 2 things.

1. Footy Smarts
2. Reading the ball in the air.

Pretty hard to teach these things at his age. Might be the new Magoo ... please let me be wrong.

 

[The Nostradamus]

I've watched a fair bit of Dawson and sometimes you can see the potential and then other times, well he doesn't. He has the physical attributes, he's mobile enough and has aggression but I am concerned he lacks 2 things.

1. Footy Smarts
2. Reading the ball in the air.

Pretty hard to teach these things at his age. Might be the new Magoo ... please let me be wrong.

If he’s the new magoo as long as we turn him into another young talent we win

Just need to find the right suitor

 

[Shinboner Supremacy]

Very slow, can’t kick and his ability to defend is questionable. Big unit they do take alot of time tho. Im concerned with his development and I definitely feel he could be swayed out of Arden st. My understanding the club has been dissapointed with his willingness to work and improve his defensive craft. His hunting, fishing is more exciting for him.

 

[Frank Thring]

If he’s the new magoo as long as we turn him into another young talent we win

Just need to find the right suitor

You only get one Essendon in your lifetime

 

[Shinboner Supremacy]

His got do much c u n t in him tho. Plays with a real agression and frustration but gives away alot of silly free kicks

 

[7577969923]

Chadwiko what type of defender is he, what is the biggest area of opportunity.
i haven't watched enough VFL this year.

From what I've seen, the plan would be that he becomes the big contested beast in the back line, taking on the big key forwards. He's pretty hard to beat in a one-on-one contest and a strong mark. Disposal is neat without being damaging. Maybe a bit like Sam Collins at the GC.

 

[Ether]

If you're not a 100% certified spud, a certain poster will question the validity of a players worth. ie Wardlaw, Dawson, Duursma and Xerri. I've probably missed a few.

Anyone remember how a certain poser said Wil Philip knocked back a 2 year deal with Geelong to stay with us for 12 months.

FFS, FML and FMD!

That certain poster actually watches the twos and you've mentioned that you don't, so he might have something on you there.

 

[DesertRoo]

You only get one Essendon in your lifetime

fomo, it’s a strong motivator, you just know if you get the hawks to even hint they’re interested, bummers are going all in…

 

[Chadwiko]

Chadwiko what type of defender is he, what is the biggest area of opportunity.
i haven't watched enough VFL this year.

(Obviously all just my subjective opinion, others may disagree)

It's a complicated question because there's two answers;

1. The player I think he can develop into
2. The role that he is being used in

They aren't the same thing, at the moment.

For #1, I think he can develop into almost a Comben-esque floating loose interceptor CHB type role. He needs to improve his read of the play significantly to get there, and his disposal needs to improve as well because his kicking isn't great as it currently stands (for example he had 12 kicks this weekend at 66% DE, and although VFL stats don't track clangers/turnovers I can recall seeing him kick directly to the opposition at least twice). But he is young and you'd want to believe he can still develop the skills necessary to get there.

For #2, at the moment in VFL he's mostly being used in that kind of Logue/Pink/Corr role where he's meant to be playing man-on-man KPD against a direct opponent. If we're being completely honest... he's not very good at this role yet. He gives up size and strength to his opponents frequently, and his 1-on-1 win rate is quite low. His contested marking and spoiling is not a strength yet either.

Now, so it doesn't comes across like this entire post is just shitting on him (because I promise that's not my intention), let me sing his praises a little in a different regard; there's been multiple times where we've seen him have a chop-out in the ruck and run around in that role a little bit, and this is the best he's looked all season. His game against Sandringham was especially good in this regard. Having him follow the play as a ruck, he looked comfortable and got himself much more involved than we've really seen him be capable of as a defender.

 

[Chadwiko]

I don't think he looks a long way off but at some point, pumping games into a bunch of guys on the wrong side of 25 is just going to hamstring the side. We need to see what Dawson can do in an AFL environment this year because it will very much drive our off season planning. Whitlock too.

The flip-side to this is that if you play guys before they're ready, you absolutely can and will actively hurt their development. It's not just a confidence thing either (which is a real and significant factor).

 

[Chadwiko]

I've watched a fair bit of Dawson and sometimes you can see the potential and then other times, well he doesn't. He has the physical attributes, he's mobile enough and has aggression but I am concerned he lacks 2 things.

1. Footy Smarts
2. Reading the ball in the air.

Pretty hard to teach these things at his age. Might be the new Magoo ... please let me be wrong.

I generally agree with this. The 3rd thing I'd add is that we really need to see Dawson (and Whitlock tbh) bulk up significantly in upper body strength. Both still look like beanpoles.

They're young. It can and hopefully will happen in a year or so. But at the moment it's probably the #1 thing holding them back.