Zac Dawson to make Round 1 debut
Moderators: Saintsational Administrators, Saintsational Moderators
- Bowey Boy
- Club Player
- Posts: 1148
- Joined: Mon 22 Aug 2005 7:15pm
- Location: Animal Enclosure
- Has thanked: 183 times
- Been thanked: 93 times
Zac Dawson to make Round 1 debut
Whilst mentioned in at least one other thread, here is an article from The Hun relating to Zac's likely inclusion for Round 1. I think it is worth a separate thread.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/ ... 42,00.html
ZAC Dawson will make a surprise Round 1 debut for St Kilda at the scene of his worst nightmare.
The Saints have told Dawson he will be promoted from the rookie list in time to confront Sydney at Docklands on Saturday week.
Waiting for Dawson in the goalsquare will be the menacing Barry Hall. Dawson, the former Hawk best known for being monstered by Anthony Rocca at Docklands in 2006, has been fast-tracked because of injuries at Moorabbin.
First-choice full-back Max Hudghton suffered a calf injury in a practice match against Port Adelaide on Friday night and will miss up to a month.
The Saints' Plan B, Matt Maguire, is still not ready for the intensity of AFL after a long layoff with leg and foot stress-fracture complications.
That leaves Dawson, discarded by Hawthorn at the end of last season after only 14 games, as the man with the best physical credentials to go head-to-head with Hall.
Dawson, 23, was adopted as football's favourite underdog when in Round 2, 2006, he battled outside his weight division as Rocca kicked seven goals on him, including five in the third term.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson delayed replacing Dawson with Jarryd Roughead, saying it was an invaluable learning experience.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon dropped the Dawson news at the club's season launch on Tuesday night.
Lyon spoke positively about Dawson taking on the challenge.
Dawson, who has put on several kilograms and now measures 195cm and 95kg (up from 88kg in 2006), was clearly elated as the players mingled with high-profile supporters and sponsors.
The club has until next Thursday to get the relevant paperwork into AFL House, with Jarryd Allen moving on to the long-term injury list to make room for Dawson.
Allen has a hip injury that will keep him out for the entire season.
Dawson looked lost to the AFL when overlooked in the national and pre-season drafts, but St Kilda surprised many by taking him with pick No. 13 in the rookie draft.
The Saints had been considering former Melbourne defender Nathan Carroll as a back-up for Hudghton, but gave Dawson the nod on the strength of his performances with Box Hill in the VFL.
Dawson was always seen as "insurance" and the decision to go with him on rookie draft day has already paid dividends.
He no longer looks under-sized and has impressed the Saints with his maturity in the pre-season.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/ ... 42,00.html
ZAC Dawson will make a surprise Round 1 debut for St Kilda at the scene of his worst nightmare.
The Saints have told Dawson he will be promoted from the rookie list in time to confront Sydney at Docklands on Saturday week.
Waiting for Dawson in the goalsquare will be the menacing Barry Hall. Dawson, the former Hawk best known for being monstered by Anthony Rocca at Docklands in 2006, has been fast-tracked because of injuries at Moorabbin.
First-choice full-back Max Hudghton suffered a calf injury in a practice match against Port Adelaide on Friday night and will miss up to a month.
The Saints' Plan B, Matt Maguire, is still not ready for the intensity of AFL after a long layoff with leg and foot stress-fracture complications.
That leaves Dawson, discarded by Hawthorn at the end of last season after only 14 games, as the man with the best physical credentials to go head-to-head with Hall.
Dawson, 23, was adopted as football's favourite underdog when in Round 2, 2006, he battled outside his weight division as Rocca kicked seven goals on him, including five in the third term.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson delayed replacing Dawson with Jarryd Roughead, saying it was an invaluable learning experience.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon dropped the Dawson news at the club's season launch on Tuesday night.
Lyon spoke positively about Dawson taking on the challenge.
Dawson, who has put on several kilograms and now measures 195cm and 95kg (up from 88kg in 2006), was clearly elated as the players mingled with high-profile supporters and sponsors.
The club has until next Thursday to get the relevant paperwork into AFL House, with Jarryd Allen moving on to the long-term injury list to make room for Dawson.
Allen has a hip injury that will keep him out for the entire season.
Dawson looked lost to the AFL when overlooked in the national and pre-season drafts, but St Kilda surprised many by taking him with pick No. 13 in the rookie draft.
The Saints had been considering former Melbourne defender Nathan Carroll as a back-up for Hudghton, but gave Dawson the nod on the strength of his performances with Box Hill in the VFL.
Dawson was always seen as "insurance" and the decision to go with him on rookie draft day has already paid dividends.
He no longer looks under-sized and has impressed the Saints with his maturity in the pre-season.
"I think, 'You kick a footy mate, you kick a footy. It's not like you've got a cure for cancer. You kick a footy, stop thinking you are so special'." - Samantha Black
-
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4243
- Joined: Thu 25 Mar 2004 2:47pm
- Location: incarnate
- Has thanked: 286 times
- Been thanked: 694 times
Good luck to Zac....talking to a Hawthorn supporter today, he said he was at the infamous game vs Collingwood and that no-one who knew anything about footy could have been critical of Dawson. He said Hawthorn midfield put no pressure at all on the ball carriers and Rocca was one out in the fifty with Zac...he reckoned no-one would have stopped at least 5 of those marks/goals especially an 88kg rookie.
Also...other full backs, with much more experience, have had bags kicked on them....so why Dawson gets tainted is bewildering to me
Good luck to the young man now 95kg, hope he has a great game for the Saints and becomes a real find for us this year.
Also...other full backs, with much more experience, have had bags kicked on them....so why Dawson gets tainted is bewildering to me
Good luck to the young man now 95kg, hope he has a great game for the Saints and becomes a real find for us this year.
Nee!
I hope he does well. At 23 he still has a good 6-10 years in him. maybe, just maybe he is the back up backmen we need and could play a big part. Ultimately not our first choice but all he has to do is stop his player kicking goals. looking forward to seeing how he manages it.
I like his speed for a big guy and is fairly agile
I like his speed for a big guy and is fairly agile
lets not get carried away......i wish the boy well....yes.....i do....but the dorks aren't flash with key backs and this kid couldn't get a game with them the past two years......still...he's young, dedicated and deserving of a second chance......
.everybody still loves lenny....and we always will
"Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of a free society,"
However, freedom of expression is not encouraged in certain forums.
"Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of a free society,"
However, freedom of expression is not encouraged in certain forums.
- Saints Premiers 2008
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4335
- Joined: Thu 27 Oct 2005 11:21pm
- Location: Brisbane
- B W and R all over
- SS Hall of Fame
- Posts: 2220
- Joined: Tue 09 Mar 2004 3:14pm
- Location: Northcote
Funny thing is I reckon he'd definitely get a game with them in round 1 if he was still on the list.stinger wrote:lets not get carried away......i wish the boy well....yes.....i do....but the dorks aren't flash with key backs and this kid couldn't get a game with them the past two years......
Croad and Gilham injured, Dowler showing that he has no idea how to play defence...
It's another small victory for us against the big teams. Kind of like how Steven King was a solid no. 1 ruckman for us last year while Geelong slowly realised Mark Blake is the reincarnation of Trent Knobel and probably shouldn't be paid anywhere near what he is getting.
25 minutes to make a name for yourself like you've never made before.
B W and R all over wrote:Funny thing is I reckon he'd definitely get a game with them in round 1 if he was still on the list.stinger wrote:lets not get carried away......i wish the boy well....yes.....i do....but the dorks aren't flash with key backs and this kid couldn't get a game with them the past two years......
Croad and Gilham injured, Dowler showing that he has no idea how to play defence...
It's another small victory for us against the big teams. Kind of like how Steven King was a solid no. 1 ruckman for us last year while Geelong slowly realised Mark Blake is the reincarnation of Trent Knobel and probably shouldn't be paid anywhere near what he is getting.
yeah.......i forgot about croad and gilham being injured.....good point.....
.everybody still loves lenny....and we always will
"Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of a free society,"
However, freedom of expression is not encouraged in certain forums.
"Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of a free society,"
However, freedom of expression is not encouraged in certain forums.
- Saints Premiers 2008
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 4335
- Joined: Thu 27 Oct 2005 11:21pm
- Location: Brisbane
i shuddered when we were brought up as potential homes for mark blake...B W and R all over wrote:Funny thing is I reckon he'd definitely get a game with them in round 1 if he was still on the list.stinger wrote:lets not get carried away......i wish the boy well....yes.....i do....but the dorks aren't flash with key backs and this kid couldn't get a game with them the past two years......
Croad and Gilham injured, Dowler showing that he has no idea how to play defence...
It's another small victory for us against the big teams. Kind of like how Steven King was a solid no. 1 ruckman for us last year while Geelong slowly realised Mark Blake is the reincarnation of Trent Knobel and probably shouldn't be paid anywhere near what he is getting.
he really doesn't look much chop at all...thank christ for ottens
"It's a work in progress," Lyon said.
- skeptic
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 16949
- Joined: Wed 10 Mar 2004 7:10pm
- Has thanked: 3602 times
- Been thanked: 2875 times
- Armoooo
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 7281
- Joined: Sun 26 Nov 2006 2:28pm
- Location: The Great South East
- Contact:
Even though he is almost a certainty to play a good 10 games this year I'm still not putting him in my fantasy teams, he doesn't have enough upside for mine. I'm going Rance and Hill.
ROBERT HARVEY A.K.A The Great Man, Banger, Harves, Ol' Man River...
384 games, 4 B&F's, 3 EJ Whitten Medals, St.Kilda Captain, 2 Time Brownlow Medalist, 8 Time All Australian, 2nd Highest Brownlow votes poller.... The greatest of ALL TIME!!
384 games, 4 B&F's, 3 EJ Whitten Medals, St.Kilda Captain, 2 Time Brownlow Medalist, 8 Time All Australian, 2nd Highest Brownlow votes poller.... The greatest of ALL TIME!!
- evertonfc
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 7261
- Joined: Mon 08 Mar 2004 9:11pm
- Location: 'Quietly Confident' County
- Has thanked: 115 times
- Been thanked: 267 times
- Contact:
To qualify my earlier post, the club needs to make a concerted judgement about whether they feel Dawson can hold Hall to no more than 2-3 goals.
I'd be asking Riewoldt and Koschitzke - and Max, obviously - about whether they feel Dawson has the physicality and smarts to play as our leading KP full-back. If they say yes, without an asterisk, then I'd give him the nod.
The major, major plus out of Dawson playing would be that Hall isn't the player he used to be, and can be beaten these days. That would give Dawson an incredible shot of confidence to say "I beat Barry Hall in my first game for St Kilda" - and he'll start to believe that he can make a difference for us.
But it's not worth losing a game over. If Dawson is getting beaten, we need to switch him either to CHB or up forward, letting Sam Fisher to play, unfortunately, as a key defender and hope either Colm Begley or Farren Ray can lift and fill the run he provides from defence.
Indeed, I could think of worse things than having him as a pinch-hitting third forward, particuarly if Kosi is struggling.
Questions aplenty. Given that Micky O'Loughlin probably won't play, Sydney are likely to have a forward line of Hall, Grundy O'Keefe and a mix of Moore/Veszpremi/McVeigh/Bird/Jack rotating through.
The alternative theory is that the resting ruckman - either Adam Goodes, possibly Jesse White (surely not Pyke) or Darren Jolly - will play forward when not on the ball, giving the Swans another tall option. In that case, Dawson could well be better suited to taking that player. However, I'd be targeting him to take Grundy, who I think is a very average footballer and somebody Roos has grown too attached to.
On selection night, you'll be able to tell how we think they'll play. But we should be wary that the Swans are going to gear their game for stoppages and speed, and we can't afford to be beaten on either front.
I'd be asking Riewoldt and Koschitzke - and Max, obviously - about whether they feel Dawson has the physicality and smarts to play as our leading KP full-back. If they say yes, without an asterisk, then I'd give him the nod.
The major, major plus out of Dawson playing would be that Hall isn't the player he used to be, and can be beaten these days. That would give Dawson an incredible shot of confidence to say "I beat Barry Hall in my first game for St Kilda" - and he'll start to believe that he can make a difference for us.
But it's not worth losing a game over. If Dawson is getting beaten, we need to switch him either to CHB or up forward, letting Sam Fisher to play, unfortunately, as a key defender and hope either Colm Begley or Farren Ray can lift and fill the run he provides from defence.
Indeed, I could think of worse things than having him as a pinch-hitting third forward, particuarly if Kosi is struggling.
Questions aplenty. Given that Micky O'Loughlin probably won't play, Sydney are likely to have a forward line of Hall, Grundy O'Keefe and a mix of Moore/Veszpremi/McVeigh/Bird/Jack rotating through.
The alternative theory is that the resting ruckman - either Adam Goodes, possibly Jesse White (surely not Pyke) or Darren Jolly - will play forward when not on the ball, giving the Swans another tall option. In that case, Dawson could well be better suited to taking that player. However, I'd be targeting him to take Grundy, who I think is a very average footballer and somebody Roos has grown too attached to.
On selection night, you'll be able to tell how we think they'll play. But we should be wary that the Swans are going to gear their game for stoppages and speed, and we can't afford to be beaten on either front.
Clueless and mediocre petty tyrant.
![Image](http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/684651e21d.jpg)
![Image](http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/684651e21d.jpg)
- B W and R all over
- SS Hall of Fame
- Posts: 2220
- Joined: Tue 09 Mar 2004 3:14pm
- Location: Northcote
-
- Club Player
- Posts: 741
- Joined: Tue 16 Dec 2008 10:20pm
- Location: Melbourne
Thinking back to other players that have played on Hall, i remembered Gwilt's game on him... however, cannot remember the outcome - can anyone enlighten me?
He could be a reasonable just-in-case back up to Zac
And before anyone says anything, I too would prefer gwilt not in the defensive half, but as i said... just in case!!
He could be a reasonable just-in-case back up to Zac
And before anyone says anything, I too would prefer gwilt not in the defensive half, but as i said... just in case!!
- matrix
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 21475
- Joined: Mon 21 May 2007 1:55pm
- Has thanked: 4 times
- Been thanked: 4 times
and if Raph plays (?) him floating across in front for the punch and also taking him if Chips goes for a trot up the ground on the rebound.evertonfc wrote:I'd start with Sam Fisher on him. Honestly.
can remember Raph doing this last year, putting his body on the line and cutting across Halls leading run.
looking forward to seeing Zac though...give him a go, and if doesnt work put Chips on him
-
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu 19 Mar 2009 1:58pm
- Location: Melbourne
- BAM! (shhhh)
- SS Hall of Fame
- Posts: 2134
- Joined: Thu 24 May 2007 5:23pm
- Location: The little voice inside your head
Best thing about this? By round 2 we'll be over the Zac Dawson love fest that's been going on since he was rookied. Zac will not be a 10 year player for us, he'll be filler until we figure out who our next defensive KPP is at best.
Of course, I hope I'm wrong. I think he's a decent gamble for the price of a rookie slot, and I wont be at all surprised if he can earn a promotion to the senior list at years end at the expense of whichever one of the Gwilt-L Fisher-McQualter-Armitage-Geary-Eddy crew does the least this year and becomes a delisting above and beyond the required 3.
I do not believe he will ever be a top quality fullback - but in his time with St Kilda, I wish him the best, if he can keep his opponents to 3 goals a game, that would be adequate.
Of course, I hope I'm wrong. I think he's a decent gamble for the price of a rookie slot, and I wont be at all surprised if he can earn a promotion to the senior list at years end at the expense of whichever one of the Gwilt-L Fisher-McQualter-Armitage-Geary-Eddy crew does the least this year and becomes a delisting above and beyond the required 3.
I do not believe he will ever be a top quality fullback - but in his time with St Kilda, I wish him the best, if he can keep his opponents to 3 goals a game, that would be adequate.
"Everything comes to he who hustles while he waits"
- Henry Ford
- Henry Ford
- mad saint guy
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 7076
- Joined: Tue 26 Jul 2005 9:44pm
- Location: Melbourne
- Has thanked: 52 times
- Been thanked: 366 times
- InkerSaint
- SS Hall of Fame
- Posts: 2132
- Joined: Wed 07 Jan 2009 3:06pm
- borderbarry
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 6676
- Joined: Mon 19 Apr 2004 11:22pm
- Location: Wodonga
- Mr Magic
- Saintsational Legend
- Posts: 12775
- Joined: Fri 04 May 2007 9:38am
- Has thanked: 785 times
- Been thanked: 425 times
The Season Launch Function held on Tuesday night that at least 7 members of this forum attended.InkerSaint wrote:I noticed that too. What launch? Why is nobody else curious?B W and R all over wrote:I noticed the article mentioned Ross announced it at the club's season launch.
Is it just me or did the club tell absolutely no one that this was on?
-
- Club Player
- Posts: 1136
- Joined: Tue 02 Nov 2004 10:58am
- Location: in the outer