There was no player more deserving of this year’s Robert Rose Most Courageous Player Award than Jordan Dawson.
And the inspirational Adelaide captain delivered a crucially important mental health message on Tuesday night that captured the heart of the All-Australian captain.
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On Tuesday night at the AFL Awards, Dawson came away with three honours: AFLPA Best Captain, AFLPA Most Courageous Player, and a third All-Australian blazer.
But it was the speech he gave upon receiving the Most Courageous award that had teary eyes welling up all around Centrepiece Melbourne.
Because Dawson, who tragically lost his brother, Jaryd, in April, picked himself back up in the toughest of circumstances to keep leading finals-bound Adelaide.
And he did so in the same way he has since being named the Crows’ captain in 2023; by example, with no fuss.
Asked by Fox Footy host Jonathan Brown how he has continued to navigate the traumatic loss, an emotional Dawson said: “It’s been a struggle; it’s not easy. It’s a range of emotions. They come at different times.”
While he spoke, the big-screen camera panned to the 29-year-old’s wife, Milly, and father, Tony.
“You’ll probably have to take them off the screen, otherwise I’ll start crying,” he smiled, trying not to choke up.
“(It’s) just about creating a safe place within the footy place, within home. Understanding that there’ll be times where I struggle to come into work, but the footy club’s been awesome in that space.
“Also me understanding that it’s OK to feel a certain type of way, and to also talk to the people that are close to me and the ones that I love, and make sure that we’re having ongoing conversations about how we’re all dealing with the events that have happened.
“It’s still pretty raw, to be honest, mate, like it’s always going to be hard to talk about, I think.
“I’m just so fortunate I’ve got such great support around me in the footy club, but also my loving family and my wife’s family — I definitely wouldn’t be here without them.”
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