Dumped Dawes wants to play on
SACKED Melbourne forward Chris Dawes wants to play on next year and prove his doubters wrong.
The Demons yesterday delisted Dawes, 28, along with midfielders Ben Newton, Viv Michie and ruckman Max King.
Dawes was a proven goalkicker early in his career before injuries took their toll.
His manager, Ben Niall, said the Collingwood premiership forward was “disappointed” to be told his contract at Melbourne would not be renewed.
Dawes was prepared to take a pay cut to remain a Demon.
“Chris is really disappointed, thinks he’s got a lot of good footy left in him,” Niall said. “We’re hopeful we can find him a club where he’ll prove to be great value.”
Niall plans to shop his man around to clubs crying out for a powerful 193cm forward.
“They don’t grow on trees. He can go straight into a preseason now for the first time in about two years, that’s the tragedy,” Niall said.
“I’m hoping we find him somewhere, that someone can take him. He’ll back himself.
“Any club that takes him is going to end up with a guy on a base contract and they’re only going to pay him if he plays.
“This could be a good ‘moneyball’ opportunity (for a club light on experienced forwards wanting a back-up).”
Dawes has played 121 games and kicked 130 since he was taken with pick No.28 in the 2006 national draft.
ST Kilda have signed former Sydney Swans’ forward Ben McGlynn as an assistant coach.
The hard-nut goal kicker will serve Alan Richardson in a development role after a playing career spanning 11 years and 171 games with the Swans and Hawks.
McGlynn, 31, has shown a keen interest in coaching, working closely with the Swans’ NEAFL team and their academy program.