Jordan Dawson

Sydney (2016–2021)

The first player to be drafted to the AFL from the Robe Football Club, Dawson was taken by Sydney with the fifty-sixth overall selection in the 2015 national draft.^[7] He made his debut in the one point loss against Collingwood at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Round 3 of the 2017 season.^[8] After spending long periods of time playing in the NEAFL for Sydney, Dawson began to find form in 2020 at a time when the Swans were struggling. Dawson impressed rival clubs in his last game for Sydney, which was the 2021 elimination final against Greater Western Sydney. Dawson had 18 disposals and 8 marks in the narrow loss.^[9]

At the end of the 2021 AFL season, Dawson requested a trade to Adelaide, in his home state of South Australia,^[10] despite speculation that the Swan might end up playing for cross-town rivals Port Adelaide. He was traded on 13 October during the 2021 trade period.^[11]

Adelaide (2022–present)

Round 3 of the 2022 AFL season saw Dawson win the Showdown Medal during Adelaide's 4 point victory over Port Adelaide, in which he kicked a goal after the siren to win the match.^[12] In his first season as a Crow, he finished second in the club's best and fairest award, behind the three-time winner and fellow Scotch College alumn Rory Laird. Dawson was made captain of the Adelaide Crows after Rory Sloane stepped down on 10 February 2023,^[13] following Sloane's fourth year in the role. Dawson won his second Showdown Medal in Round 3 of 2023^[14] in his first win as captain. Dawson would go on to greatly succeed in the role, finding career-best form and winning the Malcolm Blight Medal in just his second season at the club.^[15]

2024 began with scrutiny directed at Jordan Dawson, with Adelaide's 0–4 winning record "epitomised" by Dawson's poor form.^[16] Dawson responded with back-to-back best-on-ground performances against Essendon and North Melbourne, the latter of which saw Dawson awarded with the ANZAC Spirit medal, given to the player adjudicated best-on-ground during the AFL's ANZAC Appeal Round.^[17] Dawson was forced to miss one game in the season following a head collision with Essendon forward Nate Caddy.^[18] His absent leadership was noticeable in a large loss to Hawthorn the following week. Despite the Crows once again missing finals, Dawson strung together some good form to lead the club in coaches' votes^[19] as well as in Brownlow votes for the second year in a row. Dawson won consecutive Malcolm Blight Medals, being a part of the first tie in the history of the award alongside Ben Keays. He was also awarded with Adelaide's Players' Trademark Award for the second year in a row.^[20]

In 2025, Dawson was awarded the maximum ten coaches' votes in his first two matches to start the season.^[21] A career-best year for the Crows captain saw him lead him side to the minor premiership for the first time since 2017. Dawson was awarded with AFLPA Best Captain awarded as voted by his peers as well as earning the vice-captaincy in his second All-Australian selection.^[1][22]