Sydney Swans defender Jordan Dawson has paid credit to the side’s work rate and hardness that saw them come away with a dominant 92-point victory over the West Coast Eagles in Round 16.
Dawson starred in the clash, with 25 possessions, two tackles, two inside-50s, six scoring involvements and two goals of his own.
However the defender more so pleased with the entire team effort, that saw constant pressure against an experienced West Coast side.
“It was a pretty big team effort across the board,” Dawson said when speaking to SEN to review the clash.
“We came into the game knowing what we had to do. We had to bring contested pressure and win the contested ball and nullify their talls down back and up forward and we were able to do that.”
“Our mindset was to hunt them, and it felt like we were getting on top early, but they have quality players so we had to keep the foot down the whole game.”
The Swans played through the middle, often showing a quick string of handballs through the corridor before pressing in attack.
Dawson said that it was the team’s work rate, but also the composure, particularly from some of his younger teammates, that had to be credited.
“We know that our work rate is what is going to keep us being able to do that [play through the corridor], and we have a fair few middles that can go through the mid,” Dawson said.
“We know we can spin the wheels a bit, come off and let the next guy go so we have built that belief that our work rate is what creates our offence and defence.”
“What goes unnoticed with a lot of our young guys is how hard and composed they are.
“Everybody notices their skill level, Errol for example has unbelievable talent, but his work rate and his hardness is something that gets him a game.
“’Horse’ doesn’t look at the talent and skill level, he prefers to see us go hard at the ball and go up and back for the team so that has been the most noticeable thing, their [Errol Gulden, Braeden Campbell, Logan McDonald, Chad Warner] ability to work.
“Their work rate, hardness and composure is what shines through to me.”
The defender also went on to give credit to John Longmire and the Swans’ coaching staff, who have allowed the team to ‘play their natural game’.
“‘Horse’ and all the coaches have been really good at allowing us to play our natural game,” Dawson said.
“If you think you can hit a kick or you can go, then you go, but its also about realising the state of the game.
“That is what we are doing well as a team. Understanding when teams are coming or have a bit of a momentum that it might not be the time to try a risky kick. Its more about trying to understand as a group what we are trying to do at that particular point in the game.”
Sydney are preparing to face the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, July 11 from 3:20pm in Round 17.
