Cornes and King hail Dawson as emotions pour out after thriller

Kane Cornes and David King have hailed the leadership, strength and courage of Crows captain Jordan Dawson following the emotional scenes at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.

Dawson kicked three crucial goals in what became his standout performance of the season as he continues to navigate the grief of losing his brother Jaryd in April.

The 29-year-old has continued to lead his club with pride and conviction since the tragedy in April, and amid the celebrations after the Crows secured the one-point win (11.9 (75) to 10.14 (74)) over Geelong, there was a tearful moment from Dawson as he was embraced by his teammates and the likes of Patrick Dangerfield.

“His heart is broken and he is out there leading the team as he is,” Kane Cornes said on SEN’s Fireball.

“There’s the emotional adversity of course but the physical toll he took last night. He was so sore. To do what he did, and stand up in that moment, I have seen captains rankings around the place this week, but Dawson is hard to beat. We’re blessed with great captains like Gawn and Bont, but he is on the podium.”

“It’s one of those nights for Dawson that he will remember after he has retired. He turned up, you know the opposition will come at you and they put on that performance. They should be proud.”

Victory at the Adelaide Oval was the Crows’ third win in seven weeks and puts them sixth on the ladder.

It also marked Dawson’s first against the Cats since he arrived at the Crows in 2022.

“Jordan Dawson after the game and the emotion spilling out of him, that was some sort of journey,” King said.

“This man, what he is doing is just unbelievable. Not that he is looking for any awards but if he hasn’t got the most courageous in the competition I don’t know what’s going on.

“He refused to let the Cats take the game away from them. He had three big goals and they were statements. That goal from 55 will be a moment that will be one of his great highlights.”

Proud of his captain, Crows coach Matthew Nicks said: “He’s not bad. He’s a warrior. He’s not the only one. He, incredibly, just kept going.

“We had a brief chat at three-quarter-time and whether he might be best forward, but he said, ‘Give me five minutes,’ and he did an unbelievable job on the ball.

“That’s why he is our captain. He just finds a way.

“We are getting there. You need certain players, like him, in certain spots to win those kinds of games, and he did that tonight and that was because our group has worked on that scenario so often.

“They will take a hell of a lot of belief from this because of the way they got it done.”

As a whole, Cornes said the performance from the Crows was one they should take pride in given their injury setbacks, the pressure and the conditions.

“I think that is one of the great home and away wins for Adelaide,” Cornes said. “No Rankine, no Thilthorpe and down to one on the bench in the final quarter.

“There was carnage everywhere. Their tackling and physicality as good as you will see. Adelaide fans could not be any prouder.”