Jordan Dawson says he wants to join Adelaide in the AFL off-season
Adelaide has scored a coup over the Power with Jordan Dawson’s trade request and the Crows have a club legend to thank for helping their successful pitch.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Crows have secured an off-season win over cross-town rival Port Adelaide, enticing Sydney’s South Australian star Jordan Dawson to West Lakes.
Eleven days after Robe-raised Dawson requested a homecoming trade for family reasons, Adelaide confirmed on Tuesday the halfback/wingman wanted to join the club.
Watch Fox Footy’s massive line-up of Grand Final week coverage on Kayo including live pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage with full analysis from the best team in the business. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >
The Crows were understood to have offered more money for the out-of-contract 24-year-old, who finished third in the Swans’ best and fairest this year.
He will join the club on a long-term deal.
Adelaide will now look to secure him during the AFL’s trade period, which begins on October 4.
Dawson made his decision after touring both clubs last week – Adelaide on Thursday and the Power on Friday – once he completed quarantine.
Port Adelaide had hoped its on-field record in making consecutive preliminary finals would help it attract Dawson but the Crows’ pitch prevailed.
He met with Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks and players while at the club.
Crows football director Mark Ricciuto, whom Dawson idolised while growing up as an Adelaide supporter, also spoke with the 64-gamer’s family this year.
Dawson’s agreement is something of a statement for the Crows, coming off a 15th-place finish.
The club has landed few stars from other clubs in recent off-seasons and he shapes as potentially being the best to join since Eddie Betts at the end of 2013.
Port Adelaide football manager Chris Davies last week said the Power had extreme interest in Dawson and he could address an area of need.
Dawson was drafted as a forward, found a home across halfback then moved to the wing late this season, but at 191cm and 85kg he could offer a midfield option for the Crows.
Chosen from Sturt with pick 56 in 2015, Dawson became a Swans regular in 2019, playing 20 games and winning the club’s most improved award.
He featured in all 23 of the Swans’ matches this season, collecting a career-high 33 disposals in the final minor round win against Gold Coast.
Meanwhile, Ollie Wines, Travis Boak, Aliir Aliir and Orazio Fantasia headline eight Power players booked in for off-season surgery.
Wines, who won the Brownlow Medal on Sunday night, had a minor arthroscopy to clean up the cartilage in his left knee, while Boak had a similar procedure on his right.
Aliir was having a minor clean-out of his left knee and expected to be training again in November and Fantasia was scheduled for a tidy on both knees.
Willem Drew (ankle), Steven Motlop (ankle), Miles Bergman (shoulder) and Sam Hayes (knee) are the others on the Power’s off-season surgery list.
Eddie shares dirty secret over AFL storms
Eddie McGuire has claimed there would have been an unexpected response from the AFL after watching its finals series derailed.
Three clubs who could pounce after Blue told to pursue trade
With several clubs looking for midfield depth, Matt Kennedy is set to spark interest from several of Carlton’s rivals. JOSH BARNES names the clubs who could be in the mix.