Dawes commits to Collingwood
Chris Dawes has signed a new two-year contract, tying the 23-year-old to the club until at least the end of 2013.
Collingwood forward Chris Dawes has signed a new two-year contract, tying the 23-year-old to the club until at least the end of 2013.
Dawes has appeared in 48 matches and booted 67 goals in four seasons at the elite level, and played in the Magpies’ 2010 premiership side.
Drafted from the Sandringham Dragons in Victoria’s TAC Cup under 18 competition with the 28th overall pick in 2006, Dawes was part of the same draft class as fellow premiership players Ben Reid (pick eight), Nathan Brown (10) and Tyson Goldsack (63).
He spent his first season at the Westpac Centre rehabilitating a reconstructed knee, and waited until round 19 of the 2008 season to debut, against St Kilda at the MCG. Dawes went onto play six matches including the club’s two finals that year, and added four matches in 2009 before establishing himself as a regular senior player in 2010.
Dawes played all but one game from round five onwards, for a season total of 20, and booted 30 goals in the club’s flag-winning campaign. In 2011 he played 18 matches and kicked 27 goals but missed seven weeks with a broken knuckle.
Over the past two seasons Dawes is second at the club for contested marks and goals.
His signing comes after star midfield trio Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan and Dale Thomas all committed to new contracts during 2011.
"It's a relief and it's one less distraction," Dawes told CTV on Wednesday.
"It's nice that the club has a bit of faith in me to have me on in the next couple of years."
The young forward addressed the issue of competing clubs attempting to lure the big man away from the Magpies.
"They didn't approach me directly, they went through my manager. I think there was some interest and understandably.
"Given I am the second fiddle forward in a strong team and I am only 23 and I have got a lot of footy ahead of me.
"At the end of the day I didn't entertain any of those offers that seriously.
"I started playing footy because I love footy. If I were to leave Collingwood, money would have been the only factor and I don't think that's enough to warrant changing clubs just for money."