Overview
- Coach Matthew Nicks, speaking Thursday, confirmed Dawson will not face Port Adelaide and said the captain attended his brother Jaryd’s funeral in Robe on Wednesday.
- The club will give Dawson as much time as he needs, and Nicks said they do not know if he will attend Friday night’s game at Adelaide Oval.
- Dawson briefly returned to play on Sunday against the Brisbane Lions, recording 28 disposals and two goals in an emotional outing that included a pre-game embrace with Joel Selwood.
- He earlier missed the St Kilda match, where fans marked the 12th minute of the first quarter with applause in tribute to his No. 12.
- Nicks framed the call as a welfare-first decision, reflecting a broader focus on mental health across the AFL this month as teams support players dealing with personal crises.