Toast Zac Dawson appreciation thread

[purplerunsdeep]

I see commentary on other threads but I think he deserves his own!

While he won't get the accolades those smug 300 gamers are chasing, our Zac in true character is bowing out with his head held up high.

He's a much aligned player, I've always enjoyed his attack on the ball and literally left everything out on the field.

http://m.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2017-08-16/lyons-praise-for-dawson

Thanks Zac!


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[Kepfan]

The golden fist has been an awesome servant of the club.
He got shit done.

 

[theGav56]

He was critical to the improvement we had under Lyon. A mentor in the backline. A bit of a warrior really, and probably a good balance alongside the significantly classier Johnson and MacPharlin. Can't say I will miss him, but I definitely enjoyed and appreciated him.

 

[Kram]

Did the bloke that made this video used to be a poster here?

 

[Cobbler]

Hard to know if his style is what helped define us during our good run at it and made us the best defensive unit OR was it his style that made us fall short.

One I shall ponder for eternity.

 

[G Mus]

Did the bloke that made this video used to be a poster here?

Freo dokers

 

[youmewe]

"I played a game under Ross Lyon Club"

Members: 149.

Life Members

One: Zac Dawson (rode into battle together 152 times. Of course Ross remained a safe distance away in the Grandstand).

Well done Golden Fist.
Robbed by the umpires 166 times on Brownlow night.

 

[clivenator26]

I don't think I've ever defended a player as much, but always backed Zac, rarely let us down. He knew his limitations but always put the team first.

 

[scon]

He's a much aligned player,

Glad he was aligned with us.Great servant.
Good man to have in your corner.
Man for the trenches.Archetypal players player.
Really enjoyed his footy(barring brain fades where he's been too nasty)as part of the league's best defence.
Under appreciated by many but I'm sure players and coaches knew what they were dealing with.
Onya Fist

 

[E Shed]

Great warrior. I'm a fan. Despite his limitations he had good game sense and knew how to position himself & when to drop off and go 3rd man and all the other things that make a good defender. I reckon had the better of plenty of top shelf forwards & they would have felt like they'd been in a contest after a game on the The Fist.

 

[FreoRicci]

Underrated player for Fremantle. He's been amongst our best in terms nullifying his opponent as well as playing the team role the time he has been in purple. Always backed him to defend against the likes of Hawkins, Kennedy, Tippett, Jenkins, Walker and dominate them. Him and Mcpharlin just knew we were right down back.

 

[Square Peg]

Highlights for me in no particular order

1. Coming off his man in the very first game he played in purple to nearly knock out Stokes going for a 50:50 ground ball. Probably won us the game
2. Cameo in the ruck for a quarter vs collingwood. Probably won us the game
3. Trying to knock the lights out of Pods before the ball bounced in the qualifying final at Geelong. Probably the worst punch ever thrown

 

[yoong]

Thanks purplerunsdeep for starting this thread.
Dawson catch a lot of flake here for his poor disposal. But for me, he is an interesting character.

Imagine if you are playing an afl evolution type of game. You edit an average player by zeroing all his offensive abilities and max out his defensive attributes, you'll get Zac Dawson. Always see him like footy' version is Dennis Rodman.

For me, he's a value for money kind of player. Offers nothing offensively, but put him against the opposition's best forward and Zac will make sure he doesn't touch the ball. He is bad at what he is bad at, but he is one of the best at what he is good at. At some point he decided he is not good at marking the ball, so focused all his effort in punching the ball out of the hands of his opponent. Can read the play really well and know when to peel off his man and beat the opposition player to the punch. Hence, the "Golden Fist".
If you cannot afford an AA full back, Dawson is a good alternative,just as good defensively, at a fraction of the cost. save the cap space to invest in star players like Fyfe, Neale and Mundy.

The team, and in a way, the game have moved past his style, so it's not a bad time to hang up his boots. Not too shabby for a player with limited footy skills. Played 166 AFL games, including 4 grand finals. He didn't get to see much action this season, but still happy to have him as my buddy.

 

[gaskin]

I'm gonna miss Zac. Say what you want but he was an excellent defender who knew his limitations and never tried to be more than he was. Yes he was susceptible to the occasional brain fart but all players are at times.

 

[Freoforever86]

Certainly had his limitations, but the bloke gave everything for the jumper while he was out there.

Was an intergral part of one of Freos best ever backlines in 2013-2015.

Cheers Daws

 

[PapaJ]

I was really pleased when he joined us. He wasn't anything special as an overall player, that was always obvious, but he was dependable for what he was asked to do and played his best games on the bigger occasions - dependability as a long time Dockers fan is not what you always got. So even thought it was limited, I was pretty happy with him being around. 80+ games later and he's done his job and is going to bow out the way he played, unassuming and letting many others take the limelight.

Well done Zac D and thanks for helping make Freo's back half a joyless wasteland for opposition fwds in our most successful era.

 

[FreoMonocle]

It's easy to be good at footy and be slack, but I appreciate those who have limitations but give it their all.

He flew the flag a lot of times for team mates. Basically, you would have been a fool to tussle with any member of our backline or Dawson would be between the 2 of you and in your face, you would suffer from "accidental" attacks of uncoordination for the rest of the game that would hurt for a week. So between that and the 1%ers almost the archetype team player.

Onya Zac, thanks for pulling on the purple for us

 

[Van_Dyke]

Highlights for me in no particular order

1. Coming off his man in the very first game he played in purple to nearly knock out Stokes going for a 50:50 ground ball. Probably won us the game
2. Cameo in the ruck for a quarter vs collingwood. Probably won us the game
3. Trying to knock the lights out of Pods before the ball bounced in the qualifying final at Geelong. Probably the worst punch ever thrown

Missing one of my favourites, his goal in 2014 v the Crows. Somehow someone kicked it to him ~40 out from goals, straight through the big sticks. One of my favourite moments at a game I've been to.

 

[Freomaniac]

made the most out of his Limited Abilities in his AFL career. Played in multiple AFL grand finals including freos only grand final in 2013

 

[se17enteen]

Article from Garry Lyon in 2013
Is Zac Dawson the first playing assistant coach in the AFL? Yes.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...-it-comes-to-coachs-plans-20130614-2o9ss.html

 

[Frank J Moose]

A fitting send off would be a Peel flag with Zac starring at CHF.

Watching him live you really noticed how he would make the correct decision to leave his player and spoil the free man causing a throw in. Allowed the defense to reset. That sort of action is not noticed by most supporters but those of us in the Dawson fan club did.

With ball movement from the back half more important than the defensive 1%ers now the game has passed Zac by. Thanks for the effort you big clumsy oaf (sometimes intentionally .i think too). A true purple warrior.

 

[scon]

Is Zac Dawson the first playing assistant coach in the AFL? Yes.

This one must be after he graduated to on field coach:
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...world-domination/story-fni5f6su-1226671567540

 

[Tbonefreo]

The master of the ear massage.

 

[kingswood71]

Always had a soft spot for Zac....defended him many times, especially on facebook where the average Fremantle supporting FB experts called him useless and a spud. Behind Jack Anthony, Zac was probably our most maligned player.
I think he played his role perfectly. He wasnt there to look flash, rather to spoil, defend and generally make it hard for the forwards to score....A role I thought he did well.
Ranked 13th in all time total 1%'s, and played less games than any of the 12 above him.
Much abused for his kicking (or assumed lack thereof!) but he could actually kick!....Bag of 8 goals for Box Hill and even in 2009 was leading the Saints in kicking efficiency at a remarkable 94%!!
Gave his heart for us and made the most of his career.

 

[PapaJ]

Always had a soft spot for Zac....defended him many times, especially on facebook where the average Fremantle supporting FB experts called him useless and a spud. Behind Jack Anthony, Zac was probably our most maligned player.
I think he played his role perfectly. He wasnt there to look flash, rather to spoil, defend and generally make it hard for the forwards to score....A role I thought he did well.
Ranked 13th in all time total 1%'s, and played less games than any of the 12 above him.
Much abused for his kicking (or assumed lack thereof!) but he could actually kick!....Bag of 8 goals for Box Hill and even in 2009 was leading the Saints in kicking efficiency at a remarkable 94%!!
Gave his heart for us and made the most of his career.

His kicking will always remain an enigma. It was probably better than he showed, but used it so sparingly that it never had a chance to develop. As you indicate, what he did have in him was a pretty good set shot that, obviously because of where he played, never really came to the fore either.

All in all though, he was a player that just played the percentages and that meant he just left his kicking to when it was absolutely necessary.