AFL Trade period: Adelaide Crows recruit Jordan Dawson opens up on his desire to return home
In July, Jordan Dawson said Sydney fans shouldn’t be nervous about him being out of contract. Now, he’s in the tricolours. The newest Crow opens up about the move home.
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New Crow Jordan Dawson says his desire to return home grew stronger during the year as Sydney’s Covid situation forced the Swans to play out of New South Wales.
In July, the half-back/wingman told SEN that Sydney fans should not be nervous about him being out of contract but on Thursday the 24-year-old South Australian was at West Lakes being presented as an Adelaide player.
Asked what changed from that radio interview to requesting a homecoming trade last month, Dawson said “definitely being on the road, Covid, everything”.
The Swans did not play in Sydney after June 11 as coronavirus case numbers rose in NSW and being closer to family in Robe became more appealing.
But the 64-gamer said it was a difficult decision to demand a trade because he enjoyed his time at the Swans.
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“It was in the back of my mind and throughout the year my feelings got stronger,” Dawson said.
“It was a hard thing to push away.
“Being closer to family and friends is what I wanted.
“We were in home quarantine (in Robe) for a couple of weeks and I was probably doing my girlfriend’s head in a bit because I was so undecided.
“I love Sydney and the thought of coming home was so strong, so weighing everything up was really tough.
“I’m obviously stoked to be here now.”
Dawson was at his girlfriend’s house in Robe when the agreement was struck late on Tuesday night and his manager Michael Doughty confirmed the news.
The trade - Dawson to the Crows for Melbourne’s 2022 first-round pick - became official on Wednesday.
“I’ve been a bit of a stress-head lately so it’s a massive relief,” he said.
“I tried to stay off my phone and just speak to my manager, Michael, a fair bit.
“(When the trade was agreed on Tuesday) I sat down, took a deep breath and really enjoyed the moment.
“I love everyone at Sydney but Adelaide was where I wanted to be and was really happy they (the Swans) were able to get something in the trade.
“I’m really excited to get here, start training in pre-season and get to know all the boys.”
Dawson met with the Crows and Power before choosing Adelaide last month.
“Growing up I was a massive fan of the Crows and idolised (Mark) Ricciuto, (Andrew) McLeod and these guys, and they just seemed a great fit for me,” he said.
Drafted from Sturt with pick 56 in 2015, Dawson played a career-high 23 games for the Swans this past season.
He finished third in the club’s best-and-fairest, attributing it to gradual improvement rather than a breakout campaign.
Typically a half-back or wingman at Sydney, Dawson expected to play in the midfield, wing or forward of the ball at the Crows.
Although Adelaide finished 15th this year while the Swans reached an elimination final, Dawson did not think there was a large gap in quality between their lists.
“Sydney is probably a bit ahead in that a couple of years ago they didn’t win too many games but were very competitive,” he said.
“I feel the same coming here.
“There’s a lot of good, young players coming through and everyone’s hungry.”
Crows list boss opens up on Dawson deal
Adelaide list manager Justin Reid has defended what the club has given Sydney for Jordan Dawson, saying it is “fair and reasonable” for both parties.
After lengthy negotiations, the Swans agreed to accept Melbourne’s 2022 first-round selection from the Crows for the 24-year-old South Australian late on Tuesday night, in a swap Sydney football boss Charlie Gardiner described on Wednesday as not reflecting true value.
Dawson finished third in the Swans’ best and fairest last month and was out of contract, opening the prospect of Adelaide taking the 64-gamer via the pre-season draft.
Reid said the Crows did not raise that possibility to Sydney because it was keen to get a deal done in good faith.
He later estimated on AFL Trade Radio that between 10 and 15 offers were discussed before an agreement was reached.
“We worked hard to bring Jordy into the football club,” Reid said in his Zoom press conference.
“We feel like what we put on the table early in the trade period and the deal that was agreed to last night was fair and reasonable for both parties.
“None of us like losing good players.
“It’s a trade period and we’re all trying to make our lists better, so it’s the environment we live in.
“We’re excited to have Jordy.”
Robe-raised Dawson rejected a new contract from Sydney and requested a homecoming trade to SA last month, before choosing the Crows over Port Adelaide.
Reid did not expect the outcome of this deal to hinder future negotiations between Adelaide and the Swans.
He said the Crows had huge respect for Sydney and he had a good relationship with its chief executive Tom Harley as well as list manager Kinnear Beatson.
It was Beatson who emailed Reid to accept the deal on Tuesday night.
“Obviously we’ve been in their shoes over the journey,” Reid said.
“We’ll move forward and at some stage, swings and roundabouts, we’ll have to deal with each other again.”
Dawson played mostly at halfback and on the wing for Sydney but Reid hinted he would also spend time at half-forward for the Crows, where his kicking prowess could be an asset moving the ball inside 50.
Although securing Dawson was its priority during the trade period, Adelaide also tried to snare North Melbourne’s pick 1 last week when it offered three first-round selections, only to be knocked back.
Reid expected the Kangaroos would be highly unlikely to trade the pick, given the talent of top prospect and South Adelaide star Jason Horne-Francis.
“We were pretty realistic heading into the trade period,” he said.
“North Melbourne hold pick 1 and have been pretty consistent with what their views are.”
Reid said the Crows would take stock after the trade period ended then turn their focus to next month’s national draft, where they held picks 4, 33, 75 and 80.
WERE SWANS RIPPED OFF IN DAWSON DEAL?
Marc McGowan
Sydney has begrudgingly agreed to trade out Jordan Dawson to Adelaide in a deal the Swans said did not reflect the class left-footer’s “true value”.
Dawson was sent to the Crows on Wednesday in exchange for a first-round selection in next year’s draft (a pick initially tied to the Melbourne Football Club).
“Throughout the trade period we worked extremely hard to reach a fair outcome in regard to Jordan, despite challenging circumstances,” Swans football boss Charlie Gardiner said.
“Ultimately, we have settled on a deal that we don’t think quite reflects Jordan’s true value but is one that, after extensive negotiations, we don’t believe we could improve upon.
“After strong consideration, we believed it to be in the best interests of the club to accept the deal available and move forward.
“Holding two first round selections for the 2022 draft does put us in a very strong position and gives us great flexibility to improve our list in the future.”
Sydney will barrack for a Demons premiership hangover to hopefully gain as high a draft pick next year as possible.
The Dawson move will see the Crows boast one of the elite wing combinations in the league alongside former Pie Paul Seedsman.
“He is one of the most promising young players in the competition who is entering the prime of his football career,” Crows list boss Justin Reid said.
“We are pleased to have completed the trade with Sydney and that Jordan has the opportunity to play in front of his family and friends next year and beyond.”
Crows Senior Coach Matthew Nicks said Dawson’s versatility and experience made him an important addition to the team.
The Crows scored the Melbourne pick in a four-club trade last week that ultimately enabled them to bring in Dawson, who finished third in the Swans’ best and fairest this year.
The initial negotiations early last week centred on the Bulldogs’ pick 17, which would have made its way to Sydney as part of a complicated four-club deal with Adelaide and St Kilda.
CROWS TRIUMPH AS SWANS RELENT IN DAWSON TUG OF WAR
Jon Ralph
Adelaide will boast one of the elite wing combinations in the league in 2022 after landing Sydney’s Jordan Dawson
The Crows and Sydney will sign off on a deal on the last day of the trade period on Wednesday after a series of lengthy negotiations over Dawson.
The Swans will get Melbourne’s future first-round selection in return for the coveted midfielder.
Dawson was keen to head home to South Australia and nominated Adelaide over Port Adelaide but Sydney was keen to strike a hard bargain.
TRADE TRACKER: FOLLOW EVERY DEAL AS IT HAPPENS
Adelaide initially offered to acquire the Dogs’ pick 17 to hand to the Swans but eventually stumped up Melbourne’s 2022 first-rounder after securing it in a four-club pick swap.
Sydney agreed upon that deal on Tuesday night.
Last-day deals are only able to be processed by the AFL on Wednesday afternoon.
Adelaide had played hard ball, given they were confident they would secure Dawson in the pre-season draft, with the Demons future first-rounder their final offer.
Sydney will be able to secure the first-round pick and then get a deal done for Port Adelaide ruckman Peter Ladhams on the last day of the trade period.
Losing Dawson in the pre-season draft would have done nothing for the Swans’ list build, given Adelaide’s confidence it could get him past North Melbourne, Collingwood and Gold Coast.
The Crows will hope Dawson and former Pie Paul Seedsman will be a dominant force on opposing wings.
The Crows will take pick four to the national draft as another trump card to add to an exciting young list that is two years into a full-blown rebuild.
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