Toast Dawson Simpson

[Exhale You]

Talk of his debut has been lost amid the sea of negativity about the losses of Ottens, Mooney and Scarlett so i just wanted turn those negatives into a positive and congratulate Dawson on his impending debut.

He came to the club as a very long term project and whilst he's still very much a work in progress, he's worked incredibly hard and is genuinely showing signs of development.

The jury is still out on whether he's going to make it and he's certainly not ready yet but i wish him all the best this weekend and hope he plays well.

 

[rizzo]

Also means the writing is on the wall for Trent West. Needs to find a position somewhere else on the ground now.

Dawson will be a good player for us. I wouldn't expect much yet though.

 

[thegerman]

Just hope he contests well at the bounces. Going to be tough against Sandilands, but being close to the same height and having the nouse of Otto behind him he maybe good to go.

Has to jump into Sandilands I think, make him earn every tapout.

 

[Poetic Justice]

I don't know much about him.

Does he do well in the VFL?

Can he be thrown down forward as another option with rotations?

Does he contest the ball around the ground...

I guess the biggest question is, is he all round better than Mark Blake? lol

 

[Rosso]

Just hope he contests well at the bounces. Going to be tough against Sandilands, but being close to the same height and having the nouse of Otto behind him he maybe good to go.

Has to jump into Sandilands I think, make him earn every tapout.

The Blake/Mummy combo was flogged early in 09 (and in 08 from memory) against Sandilands so just to negate his rucking dominance would be a major win for us.

One thing the kid should do is impose himself. He's a big boy so a bit of bang and crash early on in his career might do the world of good for him in the long run. Had an army background to so that'll get the media going.

All the best to the young lump of a lad.

P.S. West wouldn't be the ideal match up for Sandilands. Against most other teams he might have got the gig but if the options there, pit the giants against each other.

 

[True Blue Cat]

Well he is the tallest of our ruckmen so hopefully will have a good chance against the tower they call Sandilands.

 

[catman2006]

Has been at the club a while learning the ropes, not expecting too much from him perhaps contest in the ruck and a couple handy things around the ground.

 

[rizzo]

I don't know much about him.

Does he do well in the VFL?

Can he be thrown down forward as another option with rotations?

Does he contest the ball around the ground...

I guess the biggest question is, is he all round better than Mark Blake? lol

I wrote this last year. I rate Dawson.

The prob with Dawson is that he is unco at this stage. He is really raw as a ruckman and for him to have anychance at senior level he needs to be given 4+ years. He has always been a speculative pick, although he showed a fair bit at TAC cup level.

I really hope the club sticks with him because someone with his height and ability to go forward is much more valuable then a run of the mill midfielder.

Playing too early IMHO, but he will be ok. He was good against the Roos in the NAB cup.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Dawson will go okay at the centre squares. Not saying he'll win many (but even Otto wouldn't have against Sandi either) but he has a decent jump on him, and is a decently strong lump of a lad. Definitely playing too early but hopefully he can learn from it.

The thing on Sunday will be, based on what I've seen of the VFL, is that he is still a baby giraffe, who is so hesitant around the ground and clearly has no idea of the strength he has. I just hope we see him get in hard and lay some blocks and tackles.

That, along with competing okay at the rucks, is the best we can expect from such a baptism of fire.

He's still very much a work in progress but he might be alright.

 

[jim boy]

This time last year I thought he was a wasted pick, but then I saw the first VFL final last year and I thought he looked alright and could make it. However it was obvious he still needs more time and I'm pretty sure he will get smashed against Sandilands, no matter though as our hand was forced and it will be a great experiemce for him.

 

[witsend]

Good luck to the lad. Expect him to give away a lot of frees in the ruck stoppages.

 

[AM]

As someone said I just hope he jumps into Sandilands at every bounce so he earns every touch. Dawson has got a fair way to go but it's great he's getting a taste of it against the best.

BTW. Do we have a ruck coach?

 

[Turbocat]

After seeing him in the North game (TV) , I thought he was quite reasonable at the centre bounces but obviously The Lurch is a far different opponent.

I only see upside in playing him.
If Sandilands takes him to the cleaners , he has learnt what is required and should spur him on to work harder for future seasons. If he competes , perhaps just like Mumford he will gain confidence that with a more work he can be a Sr player.If by some chance he can beat him on occasion , he will get pat on the back from his Sr teammates.

In the end its Blake's job to take it to Lurch , so it will not be his fault if he comes up short. What would be ideal is if he could show a willingness to work , attitude if being beaten and aggression at the ball and man in the ruck and around the ground.

 

[Exhale You]

This time last year I thought he was a wasted pick

Generally ruckmen, especially ones 200cm+, need to be developed and persevered with for 4-5 years before they can be fairly judged.
Obviously some aren't afforded that luxury due to list sizes and the cutthroat nature of the game but i'm glad we gave Dawson another contract because he has shown genuine signs of improvement.

Time will tell whether he gets there, but by the end of his contract he'll be 22 and have four years in the system so i think that'll be the time to judge him.