Chris Dawes says he feels ‘embarrassed’ by how his AFL career finished at Melbourne

‘I THOUGHT I was going to become a much better player than what I ended up being.’ Chris Dawes says he feels embarrassed by how his AFL career ended.

Chris Dawes talks to Melbourne coach Paul Roos. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

DELISTED Demon Chris Dawes says he feels “embarrassed” by how his AFL career finished at Melbourne.

The Collingwood premiership player arrived at the Demons in exchange for a first-round draft pick at the end of the 2012 season after 71 games and 83 goals for the Magpies.

However, a calf injury in his first session at his new home set the tone for what would be four years of consistent injury problems.

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“I was a bit embarrassed about how my career finished up,” he said.

“If I look at how I was at the halfway mark, I thought I was going to become a much better player than what I ended up being.

“That is what happens. That is how all athletes feel. If you didn’t have those high expectations, you would never succeed in the first place.”

Over four years at Melbourne, Dawes managed 50 games.

Chris Dawes celebrates a goal for Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

His best year at the club was in 2014 when he led the club’s goal kicking.

However, as his contract grew closer to expiring, Dawes could feel the pressure growing.

“I was starting to get a bit anxious about it towards the end of the home and away season,” Dawes said on RSN radio.

“I actually spoke to Simon Goodwin and said, ‘Look mate, I just want to chat about what my role might look like next year. I’m aware that you haven’t even made a decision on me yet.’

“To his credit, he and the list manager Todd Viney were really good.

“They said …‘We will have a spot on our list for one big bodied key forward but we haven’t decided if that is going to be you yet.’

While he was keen to play on at another club in 2017, there wasn’t much interest from rivals.

Dawes was officially delisted on the last day of this year’s trade period.

“I didn’t picture this happening 12 months ago but it could be all over,” Dawes said of his final year.

“You go through a bit of a wave of emotions. Am I going to get another look in? Will someone else take me? Do I even want that?”

Chris Dawes celebrates Collingwood’s 2010 premiership with Luke Ball.

Despite not being able to reach the goals he set for himself when he signed at Melbourne, Dawes said he doesn’t regret the decision to leave Collingwood.

The 28-year-old played in 12 finals with the Magpies.

“At the time I was really comfortable that it was the right thing to do,” he said.

“At the end of that 2012 year, that was a tough year on field for me and also off-field I just found it a really difficult year. I wasn’t enjoying my footy as much as I had in years previous.

“I wanted to be a one club player but when the Pies were looking to move me out the door I sort of thought, okay maybe this is the best thing for me.”

Dawes will play for Sorrento in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League next year.

Originally published as Chris Dawes says he feels ‘embarrassed’ by how his AFL career finished at Melbourne