Fremantle defender Zac Dawson nearly retired but is now a vital part of Dockers' defence

ZAC Dawson, in his own mind, retired at the end of 2008.

Dawson Selwood

ZAC Dawson, in his own mind, retired at the end of 2008.

The defender was 22, hadn't appeared at senior level for two years and was delisted by Hawthorn after playing just 14 games in five long seasons.

He would return to RMIT University full-time to complete his Bachelor of Property and Valuations degree and be remembered as that guy who got rag-dolled by Collingwood's Anthony Rocca at Etihad Stadium one day in 2006.

So determined was Dawson to move on with his life that he was initially inclined to rebuff the advances of St Kilda coach Ross Lyon, who had offered him a spot on the Saints' rookie list.

But Lyon is nothing if not persistent and he eventually got his man, heralding the start of a relationship that has now reaped significant benefits for each of the player, coach and two clubs on opposite sides of the country.

"I'd spent two years, I'd felt like, in the wilderness," Dawson told the Herald Sun.

"I just didn't know where I was going, I didn't know if I was good enough and I really started to doubt my ability. And at that stage of your life you've got to weigh up whether you should keep persisting or whether or you need to move on with the next chapter.

"After being delisted it was almost like a relief. It was a pretty low point in my life, but I was ready to move on.

"Ross gave me a call and laid it all on the table, said that they'd watched my videos and had come to a decision that they wanted to give me a second chance on the rookie list.

Dawson the Hawk

"At that stage I was wondering if I really wanted to put myself through another year on the outer and not feeling like I was good enough.

"I pretty much said 'no' to him at that stage, but he said 'don't make a decision on the spot, speak to your family and friends. I'll give you a call in a week's time and you're either going to give me an answer that's 100 per cent yes or 100 per cent no'. That's how it was left.

"A lot of guys would jump at the chance as soon as they got that phone call, but it actually took a little bit of convincing to push me back in that direction.

"I spoke to my mum and dad, the rest of my family and close friends and they were all of the opinion that if I didn't do it I'd regret it and I'd always wonder what could have been. I didn't want to go through my life like that.

"So that was the point where I thought 'I'm going to have one last crack at it and see where it takes me'."

Heading into the 2009 season Lyon had a vision, a game plan that would take in parts of the blueprint the Hawks used to win the premiership in 2008.

Off the field Dawson said Lyon would "pick my brain a little bit" for insights from Hawthorn's inner sanctum, while on it the defender would become one of the coach's most valuable assets.

He played 63 games in three seasons for the Saints, including eight finals - three Grand Finals - and was named the club's joint best player of the 2010 September campaign along with Lenny Hayes.

But after seemingly finding a place where he felt as if he belonged, Dawson would be on the move again at the end of 2011, a victim of St Kilda's salary cap squeeze.

Dawson at St Kilda

In his own words - and Lyon supports this - the interest from Fremantle was there before Lyon made the controversial decision to switch allegiances himself.

Dawson was useful to Lyon for intelligence in his early days at Moorabbin.

At Fremantle he would be the coach's go-to guy from the outset.

Then 25, Dawson was flung in to an unfamiliar leadership role as Lyon set about redefining the Dockers.

Dawson said it was uncomfortable at first - especially feeling as if he was treading on the toes of experienced defenders such as Luke McPharlin and Michael Johnson - but the role would ultimately be beneficial for both he and his new teammates.

"It was definitely more of an involved role because I'd been under Ross' guidance for three years," Dawson said.

"Obviously we both arrived at the same time and he was there to really steer the club in a totally different direction. He really needed my help to kind of get it through to the players, probably more so the backline.

"I'd been used to taking more of a back seat, but it really helped me come out of my shell early and it got me involved with the group which really helped. To be confident in what I was saying helped as well because I knew exactly what he needed.

"It's been a constant thing for me since I've arrived and I'm still helping the guys out whenever I can. I wouldn't call myself an assistant coach, but I definitely do what I can do."

Zac Dawson

In a glowing appraisal of the now 27-year-old, Lyon said last month that Dawson is "undersold" by the football public.

"He really steps up and can play on the power forwards," Lyon said.

"I've seen him in finals series play on (Tom) Hawkins, (Cam) Mooney, (Travis) Cloke and these guys and get it done. He plays to his strengths. He's got real speed and power, gets a fist in and when he gets it he handballs well.

"His weakness is his kicking, but he's improved that.

"Fremantle had identified him even before I was appointed and I said 'the easiest thing in the world for me is to say no because in the circumstances it was a bit awkward', but he'd been identified and he's been critical to the balance of our list.

"He's powerful, he's agile and he works in really well with the other defenders' ability to roll off and cover opponents."

Dawson said the bond between he and his coach "gets blown up a little", but admits there is definitely something there.

"He and I have had a very open and honest relationship right from the beginning and I guess it all originated from that phone call," Dawson said.

"I put everything on the line for him and I think he really puts a lot of stock in to those sorts of people, that if you put it all on the line for him he'll go in to bat 100 per cent for you any day of the week."

That proved itself to be true after Fremantle's qualifying final against Geelong when Lyon angrily denied suggestions Dawson, and his side in general, were too aggressive in the win over the Cats.

Dawson Selwood

Dawson was reported for taking a swing at James Podsiadly before the opening bounce, gave a free kick - and goal - away for downing Podsiadly off the ball in the second term and was also looked at by the Match Review Panel for a high hit on opposition skipper Joel Selwood in the last quarter.

Dawson was cleared of any wrongdoing by the MRP in all three instances.

"I've reviewed them and they were really marginal free kicks at best," Lyon said after the game.

"I just happen to be the coach of the team so I have behind-the-goal vision, I have broadcast vision that I replayed and I saw them, they were incredibly marginal free kicks. That's OK that they get paid, but to then focus on them is really disappointing in the context of the effort we've delivered.

"He still played very well."