North Melbourne teen defender Wil Dawson sets sight on passion away from the football field

He’s only suited up for five AFL games, but as North Melbourne teenage defender Wil Dawson continues to establish himself, he’s also locked in on a passion away from the field... and in the classroom.

There are many football lessons to learn for young Roo Wil Dawson as he finds his feet in the AFL but the teenager has already locked in on his passion for dishing out the teachings in the classroom.

The 19-year-old Roo spent last week preparing to take down giant Western Bulldogs goalkicker Sam Darcy as he worked with much smaller, and younger, people needing help as they grow.

Like most footy-loving country kids, when Dawson was asked what he wanted to do when he grew up, he said he wanted to be an AFL player.

When early in high school, Dawson put up his hand to help coach the Leongatha Primary School football team and quickly discovered he loved helping out young people.

Wil Dawson already has an eye on the future. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

And even as he carries on trying to impress Roos coach Alastair Clarkson enough to build a long career alongside Charlie Comben in the North Melbourne defence, he already knows what he will do when he retires.

“My dream career path is to help out younger kids,” Dawson said.

“I’ve worked at a primary school helping kids with special needs and kids who aren’t quite benefiting from what other kids would.

“It has definitely been a bit in my heart for those kids and helping them find something they love doing.”

Dawson has begun a primary school teaching degree around his football hours at Arden St and hopes to take his slender, 200cm frame into the classroom next year as a teacher’s aid on his days off.

Dawson has a passion of helping the youth. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Dawson signed up to become a mentor through Ladder, the youth charity helping young people find purpose.

With North Melbourne teammates, Dawson guides young people needing a hand through physical activity, cooking classes or just to hang out.

“My enjoyment and finding pride in myself is helping other kids and bettering myself in helping them,” he said.

“And it benefits me as well, it helps me as much as them. Hoping these kids who might not want to be in that situation and helping them come out of it also helps me as a young person.

“I think it is the trust in these kids and the respect you get from them for helping them out and feeling these kids open up a bit more and feel that connection. To see them open up to you and speak about that and count you as a friend, you go home feeling pretty good about that.”

Five games in to a promising career, Dawson has ticked off that first dream of being an AFL player.

Jordan Dawson (Adelaide), Wil Dawson (North Melbourne), Muireann Atkinson (Collingwood) present money to the charity Ladder.

Teaching might be the next career goal.

“That (playing footy) doesn’t last forever, so I’ve ticked that box but there is something else I can do,” he said.

“It’s definitely something to look forward to after my career and when it’s time to settle down and do something else, it is something I will look forward to doing.”

The AFL Players Association handed over nearly $240,000 to Ladder on Friday.

Every player puts aside $25 from their match payments every match to build up the tally.

“Some of the kids in the program don’t have the wealth side of things that we do so to show support for them, the happiness and smiles we see on these kids’ faces way outweighs the money side of it,” Dawson said.

FOOTY LESSONS

In his fifth AFL game, the future teacher learned the most lessons of his short career so far, having to take on the imposing Dog Darcy.

While Darcy still managed four goals under the roof last weekend, Dawson impressed with his body positioning and his fight.

“It’s a big challenge,” he said.

Dawson took a lot away from him match up with Sam Darcy. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

“He is a big boy, he is very, very long. Obviously there is a physical aspect I have to take in to stop him jumping, which I thought I did pretty well, and then I tried to use my physical strengths which is my speed and athleticism to go with him.

“Obviously I have played five games and he has played a few more, that sort of warrior mindset checked me in to the task and I thought I did pretty well.”

On Sunday against Melbourne, Dawson will line up in a tall defence featuring Comben, Toby Pink and Griffin Logue.

Dawson has only won one of his five AFL games so far, but he was subbed out of a round 13 win over West Coast last year with a shoulder injury, so he is searching for good memories against the Dees.

“We will be aiming for a win so hopefully we can knock the Dees off and personally, I can keep playing some good footy,” he said.

Originally published as North Melbourne teen defender Wil Dawson sets sight on passion away from the football field