Zac Dawson quits the Saints

[MCG-Unit]

Would Michael Coad, formerly from GC, be an option? I know he got delisted, but he had that bad hammy. He is 28, but he could help out while some of the young defenders get eased into it.

Might be an option Michael Coad 28, 190/86. Plus 2 other delisted tall backs Mark Austin 22, 193/95. Tom Collier 23, 192/86. Also WAFL, SANFL
They might replace from within also....

Interesting how Dawson's getting slammed now, yes he was limited, but I don't remember too many bags of goals kicked on him/them....

 

[Persevering Saint]

Smell the irony - Ross decided to play Blake AND Dawson as full-backs last year in games where there were barely ONE full-forward, let alone TWO. He did that because of his desperate fetish with defensive players. Insodoing, he left Tommy Walsh out when he was playing really well and our forward line was struggling. So the player whose selection ultimately meant Walsh left in frustration and disgust, has now left as well anyway.

Don't think Chris Pelchin will be crying a river over this, though.

 

[thomas_m18]

Do the Freo fans actually want him? I'm not seeing an overly positive response to this anywhere, let alone with Dawson asking for 300k.

 

[karmafree]

I was just going to add that MCG unit, can't recall bags being kicked on him, but then again with our game plan under RL, that was never going to happen.

FWIW the ball will rarely be at the FB line this year as the new look Saints take over with center sq clearances, BJ dominating at CHF and Roo slotting them from 10m out.

 

[mysainters]

Interesting how Dawson's getting slammed now, yes he was limited, but I don't remember too many bags of goals kicked on him....

Replace 'him' with 'them' and you've got my vote.

 

[MCG-Unit]

I was just going to add that MCG unit, can't recall bags being kicked on him, but then again with our game plan under RL, that was never going to happen.

FWIW the ball will rarely be at the FB line this year as the new look Saints take over with center sq clearances, BJ dominating at CHF and Roo slotting them from 10m out.

Yes that's often said, isn't it, guess Saints played a 'team' defense. I thought Dawson held his own in many matches I saw....still if he was asking over the odds $, so be it.

Well I hope they learn the new game style quickly and it pans out just as you suggest above

Replace 'him' with 'them' and you've got my vote.

Okay then, Dawson was part of a 'team defense' and key forwards rarely kicked bags of goals on them

 

[Squizz]

Not surprising he is 'leaving' considering he was 'delisted' by Chris Pelchan when he was at Hawthorn….read between the lines lads

?

Zac knocked back a 2 year deal before Pelchen was even an idea for the Saints!

He was well-performed in a finals series and was entitled to ask for a better contract. People can't hold him to the "St Kilda saved his career" line. He did his time as a lowly paid rookie.

Freo have obviously been in his ear about more money, whilst the Saints have been trying whittle him back (probably by asking him to stay for similar money rather than the pay increase he'd been expecting). Both have fair perspectives, and so it doesn't work out for him to stay.

One of the uncontracted guys had to leave, so now the issue has been resolved.

 

[Squizz]

Yes he is best defensive mark in game, BUT not as a FB. When he controls the defensive 50 line and is 3rd man up. One on one he gets killed and looks lost.

Have to say I'm not keen on him at FB either. A great rebounder and a super judge of when to leave his man (often to take the mark third up as you say). Body-on-body contests are not his strength (obviously he's no dud in this area though). I like him where he is, along with the occasional stint further up the ground when the match-up requires it.

Also (as someone else mentioned it earlier) we often went into games top-heavy down back due to Lyon's obsession with structure.

 

[Half Back Pocket]

Have to say I'm not keen on him at FB either. A great rebounder and a super judge of when to leave his man (often to take the mark third up as you say). Body-on-body contests are not his strength (obviously he's no dud in this area though). I like him where he is, along with the occasional stint further up the ground when the match-up requires it.

Also (as someone else mentioned it earlier) we often went into games top-heavy down back due to Lyon's obsession with structure.

Fish is great body-on-body outside the 50 arc. Seems to get caught out going under the ball too much when he plays Full Back. He absolutely dominated 1 game this year (15-16 marks?) at CHB, outmarking his opponent numerous times!!!

 

[Squizz]

Fish is great body-on-body outside the 50 arc. Seems to get caught out going under the ball too much when he plays Full Back. He absolutely dominated 1 game this year (15-16 marks?) at CHB, outmarking his opponent numerous times!!!

When opposed to someone of similar size he's a gun at pretty much everything. Just (for mine) struggles a bit when he plays on the heavier opponents - even if Sammy reads the ball better in flight they are able to body him around a bit easier than his normal opponents.

But it's a moot point. As Guide mentioned, he's not going to play there anyway. Blake, Simpkin and Archer should be good fall back (don't think we need to run around chasing a state league fullback when Head was one of the best in the VFL), with Gwilt to return soon enough.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

When opposed to someone of similar size he's a gun at pretty much everything. Just (for mine) struggles a bit when he plays on the heavier opponents - even if Sammy reads the ball better in flight they are able to body him around a bit easier than his normal opponents.

But it's a moot point. As Guide mentioned, he's not going to play there anyway. Blake, Simpkin and Archer should be good fall back (don't think we need to run around chasing a state league fullback when Head was one of the best in the VFL), with Gwilt to return soon enough.

Its the big tall heavy forwards like Cloke or Brown ( even Tippett) that trouble me the most, and frankly Dawson was no solution to these guys either.

 

[Hump 17]

Its the big tall heavy forwards like Cloke or Brown ( even Tippett) that trouble me the most, and frankly Dawson was no solution to these guys either.

One out there isn't a defender in the league that wouldnt have trouble with those three and most key forwards. All clubs get numbers behind the ball and try to get a player to peal off when the balls kicked into the forward 50.

 

[Michael Scarn]

Bit of a dog act to walk out on the club that resurrected your career. Replacements is the worrying thing. I was never one to bag him as for the lack of alternatives. Hopefully we'll cope. Farren is a quality bloke by the sounds of things - and smart.

 

[goodie23]

According to the first list lodgement, he hasn't quit yet

ST KILDA
ADDITIONS
Terry Milera - Traded by the GWS Giants, as a player previously nominated for the Draft
Ahmed Saad - Traded by the GWS Giants, as a player previously nominated for the Draft

DELETIONS
Steven Baker - Delisted
Paul Cahill - Delisted
Ryan Gamble - Delisted
Michael Gardiner - Retired
Nick Heyne - Delisted
Will Johnson - Delisted
Tom Lynch - Traded to the Adelaide Crows
Andrew McQualter - Delisted
Alistair Smith - Delisted

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/125687/default.aspx

Wednesday November 16 is D Day (second list lodgement)

 

[Moo]

Do the Freo fans actually want him? I'm not seeing an overly positive response to this anywhere, let alone with Dawson asking for 300k.

He would be handy, 300K is average dollars for a best 22 player and we have a ton of space ...I'd be more concerned at the length of the deal ...2 years is OK, 3 not so OK.

We have a dearth of defenders and worst case scenario is he is depth.

Not overly happy with the circumstances and I hope this wasn't a sneak attack - i.e. I hope you had aa chance to shop him during trade week.

 

[L_W_P]

NO Gwilt-

Dempster - Blake - Gram
Goddard - Fisher - Gilbert

WITH Gwilt -

Dempster - Blake - Gram
Fisher - Gwilt - Gilbert

We still have the talent to put a very good backline out on the park, not to mention the unknown factors of Simpkin and Archer.

I'm against getting Coad simply because he is very, very injury prone. The Suns wouldn't let him go if they thought he could play more than half a season. His body is shot sadly.

I'd rather look at the following guys in the draft -

Michael Talia (VIC - KPD)
Height: 191cm, Weight: 86kg, DOB: 02/11/1993
Recruited from: Calder Cannons
Style: Brian Lake
Player comparison:
Range: 10-45
Profile: Probably the best key position defender in this draft. Big contested mark. Has a very good endurance base. Has a strong work rate and really has great strength for his age and really seems to enjoy wrestling with his opposing big men often out marking his direct opponent in a contest. Speed is fairly average. Needs to keep working on his kicking and build more consistency by foot.

Fraser McInnes (WA – KPF/KPD)
Height: 194cm, Weight: 91kg, DOB: 19/07/1993
Recruited from: Perth Football Club
Style: Dustin Fletcher
Player comparison:
Range: 10-35
Profile: Key position player with great potential at his size. Strong mark overhead. Very mobile and should grow out well. Has had some injury difficulties but looks good. Versatility is there for him to play a range of positions, but possibly like him more as a key forward. 1st round quality talent who despite not playing throughout the U18 champs is slowly rising up the standings.

Andrew Boseley (VIC - KPD)
Height: 194cm, Weight: 80kg, DOB: 04/09/1992
Recruited from: Geelong Falcons
Style: Matthew Scarlett/ Sam Fisher
Player comparison:
Range: 15-50
Profile: Athletic type full back. Still skinny. Lots of development left though. Looks allot like Dustin Fletcher with his skinny build and long arms. Has had some really promising games down back and has become a really good rebounder from defence with his ability to mark off opposition kicks because he reads it so well in the air. Skills need work and probably needs to clean up to maximise his game and become a better attacking defender – which stylistically he very much is.

Sam Frost (VIC – KPD/KPF)
Height: 194cm, Weight: 87kg, DOB: 28/08/1993
Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons
Style: Jarrad Waite
Player comparison:
Range: 10-45
Profile: Athletic KPP from a volleyball background. Has absolutely crazy dash for someone his size! Not afraid to take on his man which is a good sign considering his athletic attributes. Has shown bits both up forward and down back, so could be effective at either end depending on needs. Like him most at centre half back with his pace providing that dash. Can tell he has played a number of other sports with some of the things he can do. Really started on fire at the U18 Champs. Allot to work with. Great potential. Need to develop consistency. Needs to develop more consistency in kicking because it is all over the place.

Henry Schade (TAS - KPD)
Height: 194cm, Weight: 81kg, DOB: 08/10/1993
Recruited from: North Hobart
Style:
Player comparison:
Range: 35-rookie
Profile: Really solid full back. Good reader of the play. Has a neat left foot kick. Very good user of the ball by both hand and foot. Good leap. Has nice pace. Agile. One of the best for Tasmania during the champs and looks like a good chance to get drafted. Needs to get a little stronger, but that will come.

Nathan Blee (WA – KPD/Def)
Height: 192cm, Weight: 91kg, DOB: 07/09/1990
Recruited from: East Perth
Style:
Player comparison: Ben Stratton
Range: 35-rookie
Profile: Mature ager. Probably a little short to play key defence but can play and has a draft combine invite so it on the radar of a number of clubs. Can do a bit of everything. Is strong enough 1v1 to hold his man. Rarely beaten. Speed good and can go with most similarly size forwards. Can also provide some drive from the back half.

 

[StFly]

Not overly happy with the circumstances and I hope this wasn't a sneak attack - i.e. I hope you had aa chance to shop him during trade week.

Speculation was a last minute thing that ended up being Walsh leaving to Sydney, there was "speculation' Freo were interested during trade week but that was primarily the "romantic" crowd with Ross being there, Dawson being out of contract and lets all marry the obviousness of it from the looks of things. This smacks more of an individual simply unhappy with the current contractual situation and being offered more elsewhere, we'd be entirely blind and deserving if Dawson sat there disgruntled for a few weeks and drew this farce out just to slap us across the face once, and short meetings with such individuals being what they are doesn't seem that sort.

According to the first list lodgement, he hasn't quit yet.

Grain of salt there though, according to that list we also haven't removed Tommy Walsh and yet in the wonders of the alphabet you scroll a little to see Sydney and they've added him. The club are balancing the books so no doubt you'll see "random" alterations / additions to the list to flesh it out more when they nut out the "stages" of the TPP cut downs, most likely around the 10th of Nov, since List Lodgement 3 falls after the ND.

 

[Goddardian]

Don't know why this is being related to Walsh's departure - the only link between Dawson and Walsh leaving is the big fat paycheck they'll get elsewhere.
Walsh is behind Reid and Goodes at Sydney, but got a 70% pay rise, Dawson will be offered far more than what he's worth on a long term contract. $300k is a ludicrous amount of money for such a limited player, and even if we did have that kind of money, I'd be furious with the club for offering that.

Also, where's the love for Nicholas "Don't Call me Nicky" Winmar?!

 

[VDS66]

Ah yes, don't forget Winmar.

If we can get our running flankers right, I see no reason why Gilbert can't play FB.

It's not always a challenge of replacing like for like... you can always shuffle a few players around.

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Flick over the Saints calendar to November and there's Zac. Saints really need to improve their due diligence in their calendar selections.

 

[TallyHawk]

can gws still take him as an uncontracted player?

It depends if he has been delisted or not, presuming he will given he won't agree to a deal by the time final list lodgings are in. Can't see GWS being interested considering they have Tim Mohr and Phil Davis.

Why go after Dawson when you can keep the option open to go after bigger fish at StKilda next year. It is why GWS didn't rush into a trade for Rick Ladson even though he will probably end up there.

 

[dan0z]

It depends if he has been delisted or not, presuming he will given he won't agree to a deal by the time final list lodgings are in. Can't see GWS being interested considering they have Tim Mohr and Phil Davis.

Why go after Dawson when you can keep the option open to go after bigger fish at StKilda next year. It is why GWS didn't rush into a trade for Rick Ladson even though he will probably end up there.

yeah they will get Baker too by the looks of it..

 

[Cro19]

Ah yes, don't forget Winmar.

If we can get our running flankers right, I see no reason why Gilbert can't play FB.

It's not always a challenge of replacing like for like... you can always shuffle a few players around.

Gilbert's a worse one on one defender than Dawson though.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

This is good news Kildonan. Nothing against Zac, (I actually quite like him), at least now Saints fans (and coaches) should realize that our premiership window is firmly shut. This in turn will expediate our rebuild.

Ahha... when did it shut again?

 

[GoTheTorp]

Ahha... when did it shut again?

That Nexus parrot wouldnt have a clue...