Jordan Dawson reveals how he overcame ‘impostor syndrome’ after being named Adelaide captain

Jordan Dawson felt like an impostor when he was named Adelaide captain. Now, he’s one of the AFL’s most dynamic midfielders and leading the Crows’ finals charge.

Adelaide Crows captain Jordan Dawson says the Crows will “keep riding the wave” of their tall forward line success so far this season.

The Crows’ four-pronged big man approach is a juxtaposed game style to what ladder leader Hawthorn is producing, yet is paying off in large numbers on the scoreboard.

Across their first three games, Adelaide are averaging 21 goals and have booted a total of 63 majors, 10 more than the Hawks despite playing one less game.

And the skipper says they’ll keep playing into that strength while the iron is hot.

“It’s started to work for us, it might not work for the whole year but we’ll keep riding the wave and letting those boys get after them and keep kicking goals,” Dawson, 27, told Code Sports.

“We’ll definitely get tested with the four taller guys but the way that we rotate around and use that attack is really important.”

Jordan Dawson has become of the AFL’s premier midfielders.

“It just allows us as mids and backs to know that if we do get it going forward that there’s definitely going to be a contest, we’re not going to get out marked too often.

“To create front half footy is what we wanted to do a bit more of this year.”

With Darcy Fogarty and Riley Thilthorpe sitting in the top five goal kickers in the league (nine goals each after three matches), and the addition of Dan Curtain working with the power and IQ of Taylor Walker, the lineup is proving to be well-gelled.

“Height and size wise, they’re big, but Darcy (Fogarty) and Dan (Curtin) are extremely good below their feet and when the ball hits the deck, they’re quite agile and can put a lot of pressure on.

“Riley (Thilthorpe) has the ability to get after the opposition when the ball hits the ground as well.

“Then obviously Tex (Walker) is extremely smart with his ball use and where he positions himself and the way he defends the ground.”

Dawson says he’s grown into the leadership role since being elected.

In his third season as Crows’ captain, Dawson has felt a boost of confidence within himself as a leader.

With the experienced heads of Alex Neal Bullen, Isaac Cumming, James Peatling and coaching director Murray Davis brought into the organisation, Dawson says their affirmation has been important for the mindset.

“They’re all just great humans to start with and have added a lot of leadership and knowledge to our game,” Dawson said.

“Isaac (Cumming) and James (Peatling) played pretty deep into the finals last year and Alex (Neal-Bullen) has obviously won a grand final, so to have those guys come in and reiterate what we’re doing is treading in the right direction, it means a lot.

“It’s helped build belief in what we’re doing.”

But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing in captain confidence for Dawson, who says he felt “impostor syndrome” when he first got voted to the role after just one season with the team, after six years at Sydney.

“I kind of felt like I didn’t deserve it (captaincy) or just wasn’t ready for it,” Dawson said.

“After a couple of years you get used to it and get used to the different kinds of expectations on you and on the team.”

For someone who had never captained a team before, enabling trust in his team as a leader was something he conceded he had to improve on.

“I’ve probably learnt to step back a little bit to be honest and not try and force myself or force the way I do things on people.”

“In particular on game day, try not to force things, let the game come to me a little bit more and trust my teammates, that’s been a massive learning curve I’ve had after last year where we did have our struggles early.”

As the countdown closes in on AFL Gather Round next week, the South Australian born and raised loves the opportunity for the state to “show off” what they have to offer.

And declares the round as “definitely one of my favourite weekends on the calendar.”

The second placed Crows will appear at Toyota’s Live Site activation at Elder Park on Friday morning, following their Gather Round opener against Geelong at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.