Remove this Banner Ad

Opinion Zac Dawson

  • Thread starter Thread starter calaisking
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users Tagged users None

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

If you think Dawson would have stopped those players kicking bags then you are delusional, our team got absolute smashed all over the park in the weeks that he missed, him playing wouldn't have done anything to change that
 
freo_leo29 said:
If you think Dawson would have stopped those players kicking bags then you are delusional, our team got absolute smashed all over the park in the weeks that he missed, him playing wouldn't have done anything to change that
Click to expand...

Dawson is a stopper . FACT. The big forwards kick very few on him. You obviously don't watch a lot of Freo.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

im_a_lazy_sod said:
Has a great cockiness about him that we've not always seen with forwards (or at least not cockiness that has been backed up by skill)
Click to expand...
At a quarter break it was interesting to see him halving a very animated discussion with Walters obviously debating some things that had happened during the quarter, good to see someone that had only played a few games having input out there.
 
freo_leo29 said:
If you think Dawson would have stopped those players kicking bags then you are delusional, our team got absolute smashed all over the park in the weeks that he missed, him playing wouldn't have done anything to change that
Click to expand...
Dawson is easy to hate but the only people being delusional are those who don't recognise that our defence is better with him there.
 
salim malik said:
Dawson is a stopper . FACT. The big forwards kick very few on him. You obviously don't watch a lot of Freo.
Click to expand...
You're absolutely correct Salim. Dawson is a stopper, the best we have available and still one of the best in the league in that role.

People need to be realistic when it comes to A. Pearce and Collins.

Pearce is certainly talented and our great KPD hope for the future. But, he has been protected as much as possible thus far. Has he ever been asked to stand the opposition team's #1 gorilla? No.

Collins is an honest workhorse but still learning the ropes and he was torn a new one by Kennedy.

Johnson has never been the go to guy when you have a big forward to stop, it's always been McPharlin and Dawson who have been given those assignments.

Certainly Dawson is a one trick pony, but when you have a team which struggles to post big scores, you need to limit the bleeding at the other end.

Yes Tom Lynch gave him a bath earlier this season, but how many would he have kicked on Pearce or Collins? No one beats Lynch one-on-one if the ball is delivered correctly and it was that day. Dawson was terrific against a very in-form Tom Hawkins. Unfortunately we couldn't stop Dangerfield popping up with a bag.

With Zac absent for rds 20, 21 and 22 we conceded 5+ goals to an opposition player in each of those games. The last time this happened was 2003 (rds 10-12). It's only happened 6 times in club history. With Zac back we were able to avoid equalling our worst ever streak (rds 19-22, 1998).

Even worse we conceded 6+ goals to an opposition player in each of those games. The only other time this happened was 1998 (rds 20-22).

During Zac's 87 Freo games we have conceded 5+ goals to an opposition player on 5 occasions (5.7%). During the 32 games Zac has missed it's happened another 6 times (18.8%).

Dawson is a stopper and he'll play rd 1, 2017, if he's available.

The coach loves him too.

There are 138 members of the 'I played a game under Ross Lyon' club.

On Sunday the club welcomed its first Life Member.

Zac Dawson became the first player to reach the 150 games under RTB milestone.
 
Last edited:
salim malik said:
Dawson is a stopper . FACT. The big forwards kick very few on him. You obviously don't watch a lot of Freo.
Click to expand...

The fact is SM,Dawson may be a good old fashioned FB who is able to restrict his direct opponent, but is ****ing next to useless at launching a quick counter attack which results in a freo shot on goal which is what the modern key defender has to be able execute with aplomb IMO.
 
Last edited:
youmewe said:
Pearce is certainly talented and our great KPD hope for the future. But, he has been protected as much as possible thus far. Has he ever been asked to stand the opposition team's #1 gorilla? No.
Click to expand...

Before he broke his leg he handed Tex Walker and Jeremy Cameron their own arses
 
Fred Ziffel said:
We are already seeing him on the full back line at times.
With our push up game plan Yaz is the perfect bloke to have only go as far as the wing. All the link players then need to do is kick the ball goal side of him; there's no defender who could keep up with him in a race for the ball.
Click to expand...
What's that got to do with Zac Dawson?

(Sits quietly waiting to hear Kram's head explode)
 

Remove this Banner Ad

In order to try and clear up Yarran's thread from this conversation I'll bump this one (thanks Kram). I can't believe it's the end of 2016, after a season we have only won 4 games total and Dawson is still seen as a key part of the future of our back line for next year by many people.

No argument from me he is currently a better negator than both Alex Pearce and Collins. You'd kind of hope so as he is 30 years old! Alex and Sam are 21/22. Sam is a first year player and Alex has played less than a season's worth of games. Maybe some have forgotten but in the few games Alex played this year, he stitched up some pretty fine opposition. Yes he'll get stitched up himself occasionally playing against the league's best forwards but so has/will Zac.

Are some seriously thinking these two guys will develop quicker and better playing at Peel? Was not seeing our youngsters develop playing AFL the only real positive from the whole season? Not surprisingly all players need AFL experience in order to improve at some point. I'm not sure what's the point of having a 30yo taking up a spot in our B22 when we have a player (Alex) that we can all see will surpass him, if he hasn't already, in the very near future.

I think I am seeing it different to some but Alex is clearly the replacement for Zac (not Sam as some are alluding to). Alex will be able to take the monster forwards and has already been racking up better one percenter numbers than Zac. Meanwhile Sam has been Mr Interceptor - nothing like Dawson at all. He should be lining up on the 2nd tall forward, and not be expected to take the monster forwards (which is the only time he has struggled this year)... If they need support I'd see Johnson as the clear best option, or failing that keeping Silva as a FB that is willing to take possession of the ball and kick it.

Before I get labelled a Dawson-hater. This has absolutely nothing to do with my respect for him. I think he has done a great job as a role-player for our team over the many years, and I liked how in a few games this year when he'd leave his player to support our youngsters. But a defender that can't rebound isn't valuable in the way the game is played anymore. Guys playing Dawson's role in other teams are just as good at negating but are also racking up to 20 disposals a game rebounding out of defence (with kicks). Alex imo will become one of those but we've got to back him in to do so. Short term pain for long term gain is where our team is at regardless of whether Dawson plays or not. Playing both Dawson and Alex Pearce is playing two negators at the expense of an extra player that can rebound. Sound familiar to the good 'ol 5-man forward line?
 
W2G - I think you can play 1 tall nullifier in defence, so long as there is heaps of offense in the rest of the backline. Stick Crozier and Tucker into the flanks, Johnson back in a pocket then I think there is enough offensive flair to make it work.

With the defence it is all about experience/games under the belt and IMO we should hold onto that experience by playing Dawson, Johnson and Silvagni next year, to give time for others to mature.
 
wayToGo_ said:
In order to try and clear up Yarran's thread from this conversation I'll bump this one (thanks Kram). I can't believe it's the end of 2016, after a season we have only won 4 games total and Dawson is still seen as a key part of the future of our back line for next year by many people.

No argument from me he is currently a better negator than both Alex Pearce and Collins. You'd kind of hope so as he is 30 years old! Alex and Sam are 21/22. Sam is a first year player and Alex has played less than a season's worth of games. Maybe some have forgotten but in the few games Alex played this year, he stitched up some pretty fine opposition. Yes he'll get stitched up himself occasionally playing against the league's best forwards but so has/will Zac.

Are some seriously thinking these two guys will develop quicker and better playing at Peel? Was not seeing our youngsters develop playing AFL the only real positive from the whole season? Not surprisingly all players need AFL experience in order to improve at some point. I'm not sure what's the point of having a 30yo taking up a spot in our B22 when we have a player (Alex) that we can all see will surpass him, if he hasn't already, in the very near future.

I think I am seeing it different to some but Alex is clearly the replacement for Zac (not Sam as some are alluding to). Alex will be able to take the monster forwards and has already been racking up better one percenter numbers than Zac. Meanwhile Sam has been Mr Interceptor - nothing like Dawson at all. He should be lining up on the 2nd tall forward, and not be expected to take the monster forwards (which is the only time he has struggled this year)... If they need support I'd see Johnson as the clear best option, or failing that keeping Silva as a FB that is willing to take possession of the ball and kick it.

Before I get labelled a Dawson-hater. This has absolutely nothing to do with my respect for him. I think he has done a great job as a role-player for our team over the many years, and I liked how in a few games this year when he'd leave his player to support our youngsters. But a defender that can't rebound isn't valuable in the way the game is played anymore. Guys playing Dawson's role in other teams are just as good at negating but are also racking up to 20 disposals a game rebounding out of defence (with kicks). Alex imo will become one of those but we've got to back him in to do so. Short term pain for long term gain is where our team is at regardless of whether Dawson plays or not. Playing both Dawson and Alex Pearce is playing two negators at the expense of an extra player that can rebound. Sound familiar to the good 'ol 5-man forward line?
Click to expand...
Totally agree with this , time to put game time into younger player. I dont see what dawson bring for long term plan . Where you can develop 1 more key position player with peel.
 
Last edited:
Ysaye said:
W2G - I think you can play 1 tall nullifier in defence, so long as there is heaps of offense in the rest of the backline. Stick Crozier and Tucker into the flanks, Johnson back in a pocket then I think there is enough offensive flair to make it work.

With the defence it is all about experience/games under the belt and IMO we should hold onto that experience by playing Dawson, Johnson and Silvagni next year, to give time for others to mature.
Click to expand...
Playing Dawson, Johnson and Silvagni :eek:

And Alex and Sam in Peel I presume :eek:

I'm sorry but where we're at as a team I think that is madness. We're not in premiership mode next season which will be Johnson's and Dawson's last season.

For me Alex and Sam are a must Best 22. Then one of Johnson, Silvagni or Dawson as the third tall for mature experience.
 
wayToGo_ said:
In order to try and clear up Yarran's thread from this conversation I'll bump this one (thanks Kram). I can't believe it's the end of 2016, after a season we have only won 4 games total and Dawson is still seen as a key part of the future of our back line for next year by many people.

No argument from me he is currently a better negator than both Alex Pearce and Collins. You'd kind of hope so as he is 30 years old! Alex and Sam are 21/22. Sam is a first year player and Alex has played less than a season's worth of games. Maybe some have forgotten but in the few games Alex played this year, he stitched up some pretty fine opposition. Yes he'll get stitched up himself occasionally playing against the league's best forwards but so has/will Zac.

Are some seriously thinking these two guys will develop quicker and better playing at Peel? Was not seeing our youngsters develop playing AFL the only real positive from the whole season? Not surprisingly all players need AFL experience in order to improve at some point. I'm not sure what's the point of having a 30yo taking up a spot in our B22 when we have a player (Alex) that we can all see will surpass him, if he hasn't already, in the very near future.

I think I am seeing it different to some but Alex is clearly the replacement for Zac (not Sam as some are alluding to). Alex will be able to take the monster forwards and has already been racking up better one percenter numbers than Zac. Meanwhile Sam has been Mr Interceptor - nothing like Dawson at all. He should be lining up on the 2nd tall forward, and not be expected to take the monster forwards (which is the only time he has struggled this year)... If they need support I'd see Johnson as the clear best option, or failing that keeping Silva as a FB that is willing to take possession of the ball and kick it.

Before I get labelled a Dawson-hater. This has absolutely nothing to do with my respect for him. I think he has done a great job as a role-player for our team over the many years, and I liked how in a few games this year when he'd leave his player to support our youngsters. But a defender that can't rebound isn't valuable in the way the game is played anymore. Guys playing Dawson's role in other teams are just as good at negating but are also racking up to 20 disposals a game rebounding out of defence (with kicks). Alex imo will become one of those but we've got to back him in to do so. Short term pain for long term gain is where our team is at regardless of whether Dawson plays or not. Playing both Dawson and Alex Pearce is playing two negators at the expense of an extra player that can rebound. Sound familiar to the good 'ol 5-man forward line?
Click to expand...
Perfectly said.
 
meima said:
Totally agree with this , time to put game time into younger player. I dont see what dawson bring for long term plan . Where you can develop 1 more key position player with peel.
Click to expand...
I see where dawson fits.

looking at the situation, If I was a betting man, Dawson will be in our 22 next year, not that its a bad thing...

In an ideal world, I would have Johnson, Collins and Alex Pearce be our 3 main defenders next season.

Problem is Johnson has been shot down with multiple injuries.

I have said this many times. Considering McPharlin is retired, I still would of said this in 2016 regardless where we finished.

I still would of been happy playing Johnson and Dawson as experienced talls and Give Alex Pearce and Sam Collins 10 games each as 3rd talls.

That way both Pearce and Collins who are young compared to dawson and johnson, were protected.

I still got my wish... sort of. Collins got 10 games this year only because we were down to our bare bones in kpds.

Alex Pearce played 8 games but he was injured
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Will be interesting to see how aggressively getting games into the young players will be pursued from the outset in 2017. RTB's interview on 7 News tonight indicates that Dawson was front of mind as making our team 'better on paper' last weekend and he together with Sandilands, Pavlich and De boer 'steeled us up.'
Personally, I'd not be surprised if the likes of Dawson feature early at the commencement of the season when the Club is assessing if there is any potential of a bounce with Fyfe, Bennell, Johnson and Sandilands ideally in the mix. I'd expect that their view of the Best 22 leading into Round 1 will be less about development with more emphasis on results at that point and to that extent the Coach will instinctively value the experience of someone like Dawson.

As a separate matter, I'd hope we hear what RTB feels he learnt from the weekend and the last few games. He alluded to something in his presser when he mentioned there was a 'link' between things but unfortunately he did not expand on it and those asking the questions didn't persist. Perhaps (and hopefully) there was a lightbulb moment or two on the weekend that largely was reason for the improvement beyond that just attributable to the addition of experience or rising to the occasion.
 
wayToGo_ said:
In order to try and clear up Yarran's thread from this conversation I'll bump this one (thanks Kram). I can't believe it's the end of 2016, after a season we have only won 4 games total and Dawson is still seen as a key part of the future of our back line for next year by many people.

No argument from me he is currently a better negator than both Alex Pearce and Collins. You'd kind of hope so as he is 30 years old! Alex and Sam are 21/22. Sam is a first year player and Alex has played less than a season's worth of games. Maybe some have forgotten but in the few games Alex played this year, he stitched up some pretty fine opposition. Yes he'll get stitched up himself occasionally playing against the league's best forwards but so has/will Zac.

Are some seriously thinking these two guys will develop quicker and better playing at Peel? Was not seeing our youngsters develop playing AFL the only real positive from the whole season? Not surprisingly all players need AFL experience in order to improve at some point. I'm not sure what's the point of having a 30yo taking up a spot in our B22 when we have a player (Alex) that we can all see will surpass him, if he hasn't already, in the very near future.

I think I am seeing it different to some but Alex is clearly the replacement for Zac (not Sam as some are alluding to). Alex will be able to take the monster forwards and has already been racking up better one percenter numbers than Zac. Meanwhile Sam has been Mr Interceptor - nothing like Dawson at all. He should be lining up on the 2nd tall forward, and not be expected to take the monster forwards (which is the only time he has struggled this year)... If they need support I'd see Johnson as the clear best option, or failing that keeping Silva as a FB that is willing to take possession of the ball and kick it.

Before I get labelled a Dawson-hater. This has absolutely nothing to do with my respect for him. I think he has done a great job as a role-player for our team over the many years, and I liked how in a few games this year when he'd leave his player to support our youngsters. But a defender that can't rebound isn't valuable in the way the game is played anymore. Guys playing Dawson's role in other teams are just as good at negating but are also racking up to 20 disposals a game rebounding out of defence (with kicks). Alex imo will become one of those but we've got to back him in to do so. Short term pain for long term gain is where our team is at regardless of whether Dawson plays or not. Playing both Dawson and Alex Pearce is playing two negators at the expense of an extra player that can rebound. Sound familiar to the good 'ol 5-man forward line?
Click to expand...

There you go talking perfect sense again....
Perfectly elocuted- agree entirely.
 
Freomaniac said:
I see where dawson fits.

looking at the situation, If I was a betting man, Dawson will be in our 22 next year, not that its a bad thing...

In an ideal world, I would have Johnson, Collins and Alex Pearce be our 3 main defenders next season.

Problem is Johnson has been shot down with multiple injuries.

I have said this many times. Considering McPharlin is retired, I still would of said this in 2016 regardless where we finished.

I still would of been happy playing Johnson and Dawson as experienced talls and Give Alex Pearce and Sam Collins 10 games each as 3rd talls.

That way both Pearce and Collins who are young compared to dawson and johnson, were protected.

I still got my wish... sort of. Collins got 10 games this year only because we were down to our bare bones in kpds.

Alex Pearce played 8 games but he was injured
Click to expand...
I see it differently , if you want rebuild do it right, chemistry is far more important, you dont just put players in from freo peel and know how he move under pressure in afl level.positioning all that is so important, dont get carried away regarding pav farewell game.
 
meima said:
I see it differently , if you want rebuild do it right, chemistry is far more important, you dont just put players in from freo peel and know how he move under pressure in afl level.positioning all that is so important, dont get carried away regarding pav farewell game.
Click to expand...
Pavs farewell game reminded me what Freo were capable of what we can do and what we could of done. We beat a team that made finals. We really dug deep and fought tooth and nail in that game. Thats what we did last year.

Why didnt we do it in the 1st half of the season?

As for Dawson... as crap as he is, We might need him until 2018.

That would mean that Alex Pearce and Sam Collins would be 23 and 24 years old respectively and notched up 50 games each.

That means we need a young kpd this year and next year for depth.

This was the problem having Mcpharlin, Johnson and dawson. All 3 were in a similar age bracket. with Mcpharlin gone at the end of 2015 and the other 2 signed until 2017, we got 2 more years to find youth to pump games into before johnson and dawson retires.

Another example was the ruck stocks. Sure Sandi and griffin are here until 2017. While Clarke is a FA and Hannath is out of contract. One of Clarke/Hannath had to be kept as an expericed player.

It would be bad list managent to get rid of all 4 rucks and walk in to 2018 with no experienced ruckman.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Remove this Banner Ad

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top Bottom