Promising Collingwood forward Chris Dawes successfully took part his first game of 2007 when he represented the Williamstown reserves on Saturday afternoon.
The robust 194-centimetre, 96-kilogram Dawes was taken with the 28th pick – Collingwood’s third selection overall – in the 2006 draft. He was projected to go even higher but for a serious knee injury sustained last September playing for the Sandringham Dragons in Victoria’s under 18 competition.
But with 10 months of rigorous rehabilitation behind him, Dawes was cleared to play his first game back against Port Melbourne reserves at Burbank Oval on Saturday.
He was given instructions by the club medical staff to only play a quarter, so after half time he ran down to full forward to take yet another step in his progress to realising his dream of playing AFL football.
“The doctors said I could only play a quarter max, regardless of how I was feeling, so I wasn’t nervous, more just frustrated, but I was pleased it was happening,” Dawes told collingwoodfc.com.au on Monday.
“I didn’t think about the knee, I was feeling fit and fresh, and just wanted to hit a few contests.”
With a quarter to try and get back into some rhythm after so much time spent in the gym and in the physio room, it was always going to be difficult for Dawes, but incredibly he booted the team’s entire score for the third stanza, one goal and one behind.
“It was nice to get a couple kicked to me in the right spots, but the ball wasn’t coming down there much,” he added.
“My first possession came from a mark on the lead, but I went back and kicked a behind.
“A short time later I led again, but my opponent was holding on and I received a free kick behind the play. I expected to kick it, and I was relieved I did after missing the first one.”
Dawes’ main focus now is just to build on that game over the next month, and gradually work towards playing a full game.
“I don’t think playing that game changes my goals for 2007, it’s just another step forward.
“I’m not worrying about my performance at this stage, it’s simply about getting through, and building into a full game over the next 2-3 weeks.”
For the record, Dawes’ first game back was also a win, with the Seagulls triumphing over top-side Port by a solitary point.
The robust 194-centimetre, 96-kilogram Dawes was taken with the 28th pick – Collingwood’s third selection overall – in the 2006 draft. He was projected to go even higher but for a serious knee injury sustained last September playing for the Sandringham Dragons in Victoria’s under 18 competition.
But with 10 months of rigorous rehabilitation behind him, Dawes was cleared to play his first game back against Port Melbourne reserves at Burbank Oval on Saturday.
He was given instructions by the club medical staff to only play a quarter, so after half time he ran down to full forward to take yet another step in his progress to realising his dream of playing AFL football.
“The doctors said I could only play a quarter max, regardless of how I was feeling, so I wasn’t nervous, more just frustrated, but I was pleased it was happening,” Dawes told collingwoodfc.com.au on Monday.
“I didn’t think about the knee, I was feeling fit and fresh, and just wanted to hit a few contests.”
With a quarter to try and get back into some rhythm after so much time spent in the gym and in the physio room, it was always going to be difficult for Dawes, but incredibly he booted the team’s entire score for the third stanza, one goal and one behind.
“It was nice to get a couple kicked to me in the right spots, but the ball wasn’t coming down there much,” he added.
“My first possession came from a mark on the lead, but I went back and kicked a behind.
“A short time later I led again, but my opponent was holding on and I received a free kick behind the play. I expected to kick it, and I was relieved I did after missing the first one.”
Dawes’ main focus now is just to build on that game over the next month, and gradually work towards playing a full game.
“I don’t think playing that game changes my goals for 2007, it’s just another step forward.
“I’m not worrying about my performance at this stage, it’s simply about getting through, and building into a full game over the next 2-3 weeks.”
For the record, Dawes’ first game back was also a win, with the Seagulls triumphing over top-side Port by a solitary point.
