Player Watch #18: Wil 'Shotgun' Dawson - Extends to end of 2026

[giantroo]

Welcome to Will Dawson!

 

[giantroo]

 

[giantroo]

Get excited: Watch new Roo Wil Dawson in action

Watch the best of 2023 draft selection Wil Dawson

www.nmfc.com.au

 

[giantroo]

Five things to know about Wil Dawson

Get to know North Melbourne's No.22 selection in the 2023 AFL Draft

www.nmfc.com.au

1. He fills the Ben McKay

32

Ben Mckay

Age

26

Ht

202cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.5

2star

K

3.7

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.7

4star

MG

77.2

1star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

88.5

2star

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

67.8

1star

-shaped hole on North Melbourne’s list​

The departure of 71-gamer and 202cm key defender Ben McKay

32

Ben Mckay

Age

26

Ht

202cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.5

2star

K

3.7

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.7

4star

MG

77.2

1star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

88.5

2star

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

67.8

1star

to Essendon left a sizeable gap in the Kangaroos' list, but the addition of Dawson is a promising step on the path to filling it. While still a raw prospect, Dawson stands two metres tall and has a captivating aerial presence when playing his role behind the ball. A high-flying grab for Vic Country during an under-18 National Championships game against the Allies highlighted just how well he can command the skies.

2. He’s an elite interceptor who can also lock down​

Dawson's intercept marking is a clear standout of his game. A solid leap, paired with his play-reading ability and strong hands, makes him incredibly tough in one-on-one situations, which he demonstrated throughout his four games for Vic Country this year. And not only can he control the airways, but if the ball hits the deck his bodywork always keeps him in the play, making him an ideal lockdown back.

3. He's the club's second South Gippsland recruit in this draft​

Dawson's hails from Leongatha in Victoria's east, 30 minutes down the South Gippsland Highway from No.4 pick Zane Duursma's hometown in Foster. A proud Leongatha Parrot, Dawson played a starring role in the South Gippsland club's premiership this season, holding Moe's most dangerous forward to just one goal in the preliminary final. He'll look forward to reuniting with Duursma at Arden St, having already played with his new teammate at junior level at Gippsland Power in the Coates Talent League.

4. He spent his junior years outmuscling older opponents​

Dawson's late December birthday made him only just eligible for this year's draft - another thing he shares with ex-Roo Ben McKay

32

Ben Mckay

Age

26

Ht

202cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.5

2star

K

3.7

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.7

4star

MG

77.2

1star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

88.5

2star

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

67.8

1star

, whose birthday is Christmas Eve. As one of the draft pool's youngest players, he's consistently had to prove his worth against older, more developed opponents at the junior level, so it's perhaps no surprise he's highly regarded for his ferocious attack on the ball. Dawson himself is still developing in a very literal sense. He grew 20cm in the past two years, maintaining his ability at ground level while piling on size and strength.

5. He started life as a forward​

Before he shifted into defence midway through this year's U18 champs, Dawson split the first half of his year playing either in the ruck or the forward arc. As a forward, he combines mobility with aerial strength to present a dangerous target. But while he impressed with three goals in trials for Vic Country, it was as a physical and miserly defender that he really lifted his game to a new level.

 

[giantroo]

 

[gokangas]

Welcome Wil.

 

[noobermensch]

 

[Premieroos]

Round 1 double Dawson down back?

 

[CURVE]

Welcome to North Willy D.

 

[Roostorm]

Welcome big Will…..here’s to a magnificent career ….

 

[Liam Boy]

Will "Kallan" Dawson

 

[LB2Snake]

Love the look of this kid. Aggressive in the air is a rare trait and one that’s hard to teach IMO.

 

[Mixed Results]

There are a lot of similarities here to Ben McKay

32

Ben Mckay

Age

26

Ht

202cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.5

2star

K

3.7

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.7

4star

MG

77.2

1star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

88.5

2star

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

67.8

1star

, who once upon a time was taken at pick 21 as a late-blooming strong-marking 201cm KPP from Gippsland with a late birthday.

 

[DunderHead]

Love the look of this kid. Aggressive in the air is a rare trait and one that’s hard to teach IMO.

He also gets busy when it hits the ground. Looks agile and puts on great pressure.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Welcome but I reckon we reached here

 

[Dingster]

Go well one l Wil

 

[The Dingrel]

Love the look of this kid. Aggressive in the air is a rare trait and one that’s hard to teach IMO.

only 17 still, moves well for a big fella, and already a bit on his frame......is it me but are his mechanics in the way he moves a big like Goldy?

 

[r_boy]

He will fill out to be a monster

 

[muttley45]

Welcome to North Wil, looks like a rock solid, blue chip investment for the future KPP duties, go well young man.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Reckon he has the ceiling of a Harris Andrews

31

Harris Andrews

Age

27

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

151.7

2star

D

17.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

3star

D

9.8

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.8

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

94.0

2star

type. Elite interceptor who can also lock down and be damaging with his field kicking.

Can’t teach his competitiveness and physicality.

Stacks of upside.

 

[r_boy]

Reckon he has the ceiling of a Harris Andrews type. Elite interceptor who can also lock down and be damaging with his field kicking.

Can’t teach his competitiveness and physicality.

Stacks of upside.

I like him

He's a good athlete and competitor and will fill out into an absolute beast

 

[Swallow_Wood]

Reckon he has the ceiling of a Harris Andrews type. Elite interceptor who can also lock down and be damaging with his field kicking.

Can’t teach his competitiveness and physicality.

Stacks of upside.

Any chance of him ending up forward? He seems to have the pace to get separation and the movement and size to cause real headaches for defenders. Likely he will grow a bit more too. 201cm already...

 

[Psi-Roos]

Round 1 double Dawson down back?

Get around the Double D's

 

[the big lebowski]

Was the player I asked for.

Couldn’t understand the lack of discussion on upside on him.

Mainly due to growth spurt and very late bday. He’ll be 18 for basically all of next year.

Low accumulation/production to date for sure.

But hes versatile, his intercept marking looks best in class, moves well enough, and has heaps of upside.

 

[Event Horizon]

There are a lot of similarities here to Ben McKay

32

Ben Mckay

Age

26

Ht

202cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.5

2star

K

3.7

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.7

4star

MG

77.2

1star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

88.5

2star

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

67.8

1star

, who once upon a time was taken at pick 21 as a late-blooming strong-marking 201cm KPP from Gippsland with a late birthday.

Hope Will comes on much quicker though


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