Sport Dees get Dawes
Big Magpie forward officially on the move
THE Demons and Collingwood late yesterday reached agreement on a trade for Chris Dawes, with the paperwork set to be lodged at AFL House.
CHRIS Dawes will officially become a Melbourne player today.
The Demons and Collingwood reached agreement late yesterday on a trade for the 2010 premiership key forward, and the paperwork is set to be lodged at AFL House.
Collingwood snared picks No.20 and No.45 in the coming national draft from Mel- bourne and handed pick No.58 to the Dees.
It is a major boost to Melbourne, which has aggressively chased several players in the trade and free agency period.
Dawes chose the Demons a year after the lowly club lured another forward target, Mitch Clark, from Brisbane.
The Western Bulldogs also had been keen to secure Dawes, and as recently as Monday had not given up hope as the Magpies had not accepted Melbourne’s terms.
But the swap of thirdround picks, effectively allowing the Pies to push up the order, was enough to get the deal over the line.
Originally, the Demons had put only pick No.20 on the table.
Dawes still had two years to run on a contract at Collingwood, but wanted out after the Pies recruited Quinten Lynch from West Coast to play a similar role.
It is believed Dawes’s strong relationship with Demons assistant coach Leigh Brown and coach Mark Neeld, both former Magpies, was a key factor in his decision to join Melbourne.
Dawes will receive a significant pay rise to cross to the Demons, who now have an impressive tall- forward structure. However, Melbourne still has weaknesses in the midfield.
It is also a win for Collingwood, which has snapped up early picks in return for Dawes and Sharrod Wellingham, who has joined West Coast.
‘‘Chris can be proud of his contribution to Collingwood,’’ said the Magpies’ director of football, Geoff Walsh. ‘‘We wish him well.’’