The youngest of three siblings, Dawson grew up in Robe, a coastal town in South Australia’s south-east. Playing for the Robe Roosters in his junior football days, Dawson moved to Adelaide to board at Scotch College for his final years of school.

It was while playing at Scotch and through SANFL club Sturt where the athletic and versatile tall caught the eye of recruiters, mainly playing as a forward. At 190cm, Dawson’s ability to win the ball both aerially and on the ground is highly impressive, while his versatility makes him eligible to play almost anywhere on the field.

After hearing his name called by the Sydney Swans in the 2015 National Draft, Dawson made the move east.

Since making his AFL debut in 2017 Dawson has shown he can fit in anywhere on the ground, whether it is at either end, along the wing, or through the midfield.

Possessing a booming left foot kick, he showed glimpses of his talent over the 2017 and 2018 seasons and the exciting brand of footy he plays, however both years were marred with frustrating injuries.

A full pre-season, improved fitness and physicality, and a semi-permanent move to the backline led to a breakout season in 2019 as Dawson cemented his position in the Swans lineup. He sealed the year with the Club’s Most Improved Award and his first top 10 finish in the Swans Best and Fairest.

Celebrating his 50th game in 2021, Dawson made the move back home to South Australia to play for the Adelaide Crows in 2022.