Chris Dawes Biography

Two of Heritier Lumumba's premiership teammates, Brent Macaffer and Chris Dawes, have backed the former Pie's claim he had the nickname 'chimp' during his time at the club, a nickname that led to Lumumba accusing the club of entrenched racism.

"The nickname 'the chimp' and stuff like that which absolutely I remember clearly like that was (his) nickname from whenever I got to the football club in 2006," Macaffer told SBS.

Dawes added: "You mentioned the nickname 'chimp'. I heard that a couple times."

Chris Dawes believes he still has plenty of good footy left in the tank, but concedes he is yet to field any significant offers from AFL clubs offering him a lifeline.

"I reckon they (the Demons) really are on the cusp of finals, particularly with the list that they’ve built and I saw a spot for myself there as a senior player who is able to do a lot of the heavy lifting and help these young players if I can absorb some physical pressure for them,” Dawes told Melbourne radio station RSN.

"But obviously the club saw it differently.”

Chris Dawes, Ben Newton, Viv Michie and Max King are delisted by the Demons.

Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney says that Chris Dawes will not be offered a new deal at the Demons until after the player movement period.

"He's one of a few players at the moment that we're just waiting until the end of trade period just to have a look of who we bring in," Mahoney said.

"He has not (been) offered a contract at this stage."

Chris Dawes' heart is set on playing on with Melbourne next season, but a few opposition clubs have signalled their interest in the uncontracted key forward in the event he departs the Demons.

"We remain in conversations with the club and are hopeful Chris will be at Melbourne next year, but there are no guarantees," Dawes' manager, Ben Niall of Scopo Management, said.

"Chris has definitely got his body right now and is on a better training program that should mean he is more durable.

"Having put in the hard yards at Melbourne, Chris wants to be part of it now the club is tracking in the right direction."

Melbourne Paul Roos believes out-of-contract forward Chris Dawes has a future at Melbourne, but the decision is out of the departing senior coach's hands as he prepares to pass the reins to assistant Simon Goodwin.

"We believe that his best footy's really, really positive, really good," Roos said.

"It's probably hard for me to say (if he's playing for his future), because there's a clear distinction between when Simon takes over and I finish.

"The ultimate decisions aren't really made until you look at who's available in the draft, what the list looks like – young players coming in, old players etc. – so Dawesy's probably similar to a lot of players around the competition that's out of contract."

A decision on Chris Dawes' future at Melbourne won't be made until the end of the season.

The lucrative four-year deal Dawes signed when he crossed from Collingwood in the 2012 trade period is set to expire at the end of 2016.

Melbourne and Dawes' manager, Ben Niall, reportedly agreed at the start of this year to delay contract talks until the end of the season, allowing the key forward to focus on overcoming the injury problems that dogged his first three seasons at the club and rediscovering his best form.

Chris Dawes concedes he will not be ready to play until round four following persistent calf problems this pre-season.

"I've had an interrupted pre-season," Dawes said.

"[The physio staff have decided] rather than focusing on round one, I should take as much time as I need to and have a real emphasis on building strength through my calf.

"Then having another few weeks of conditioning my body in training, and when I start playing games in the VFL I'm right to go."

Melbourne has overhauled its leadership group with captain Nathan Jones the only survivor from last year.

Vice-captain Lynden Dunn, former co-captain Jack Grimes, key forward Chris Dawes and Heritier Lumumba have all been axed from the 2015 group, while Daniel Cross has already retired.

The new group features reigning best and fairest winner Bernie Vince, veteran Colin Garland, defender Tom McDonald and emerging stars Jack Viney and Max Gawn.

A calf injury will sideline Chris Dawes for four weeks.

"Scans have revealed a strain which he will now start to rehab, and we hope for no further hiccups from here in the build up to his return," Demons football manager Josh Mahoney said.

Chris Dawes injures his calf at training.

The 27-year-old has been on a modified program since Christmas after experiencing soreness through his lower leg area.

Jones will be Melbourne's sole captain in 2015 and he will be supported by three recycled players in the club's leadership group.

Jones, 27, will handle the responsibility on his own after sharing the captaincy duties with Jack Grimes in 2014.

Former Collingwood defender Heritier Lumumba is a surprise choice for the Demons' leadership group, which also includes Grimes, Lynden Dunn, ex-Dog Daniel Cross and former Magpie Chris Dawes.

"I think it's a really good mix of guys that understand how difficult it has been, but also some guys who have had some real success who can continue to raise standards around here," Melbourne coach Paul Roos said.

Chris Dawes accepts a one-match ban for striking North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow.

Dawes was charged with a level two striking offence, which would ordinarily have been reduced to a reprimand with an early guilty plea.

However, the 26-year-old will miss the Demons' round-one match next season because of 68.75 carryover points for a striking charge against Richmond defender Alex Rance in round nine.

Dawes made high contact to Swallow after the midfielder had disposed of the ball in the third quarter of Saturday night's loss and was reported.

The incident was assessed as reckless conduct, low impact and high contact.

Chris Dawes says he has to change the way he trains and plays if he wants to remain in football.

The Collingwood premiership player has battled knee and calf problems since joining Melbourne at the beginning of last season and has played just 13 games for the club.

"A couple of months ago I had one of those chats with Dave Misson (Melbourne's fitness boss) where he kind of told me, 'Well, you're not the kid that you were, so you are going to have to start investing more time in your body, and you can't do some of the things you used to be able to do and took for granted'," Dawes said.

"With that in mind I think it is going be an ongoing thing for the rest of my career. I'm going to have to invest a lot of time and energy just making sure my body is right and really looking after it."

Chris Dawes' pre-season will be delayed after the key forward underwent knee surgery to deal with swelling from running during the post season.

"The damage has been repaired and he'll be off legs for six to eight weeks and he'll be back running in approximately two months," football manager Josh Mahoney told the club's website.

Chris Dawes says he is excited about running out for his Demon debut this week after struggling to get his hamstring right.

"There is just a real sense of excitement that I'm about to make my debut for the club," he said.

"It's been frustrating not being out there, especially when there were patches in games where we weren't competitive."

Former Collingwood forward Chris Dawes believes he made the right decision in switching clubs despite the Demons' recent woes.

"I look at the turnaround in effort consistently across the board just in the last three or four weeks of footy," Dawes said.

"That if anything re-affirms my confidence that I have made the right decision coming to a team that's improving and that wants to improve.''

Chris Dawes' debut for the Demons remains elusive after the key forward re-injures his hamstring, facing another month on the sidelines.

"Chris is unfortunately having some ongoing issues with his hamstring," Melbourne football manager Josh Mahoney said.

"He's injured it again during training last week, so at this stage, we'd be expecting the hamstring program to be three to four weeks away from playing."

Chris Dawes says he will miss many of his Collingwood teammates but is excited with his new club, the Demons.

"The nice thing is at least I did achieve that (a flag) there so I don't have that sense of unfinished business quite so much. With those blokes I played in a flag with, there's a handful I will remain close friends with," Dawes said.

"When you get to a new club, you need to earn the respect of your teammates as quickly as possible and I've been trying to do that as best I can."

Chris Dawes says he hopes for a return to the forward line on a full-time basis with Melbourne as well as a chance to display his leadership qualities.

"They can expect a lot of effort, a big target up forward and hopefully a bit of leadership around the place too," Dawes said about what Demons fans can expect from him.

"I have always rated my leadership qualities and if I am in a position of leadership I'm sure that will bring out the best football in me."

Collingwood and Melbourne have finally agreed to terms, with key forward Chris Dawes joining the Demons after a trade involving Collingwood's first round draft pick at No.20 and a swap of the clubs' later round picks.

"We see Chris as a long-term player for the Melbourne Football Club," Melbourne list manager Tim Harrington said.

"He is a premiership player with plenty of finals experience and brings a much needed physical presence to our forward line.

"Chris fills a specific long-term need for our club. At 24 years of age, he will grow with the rest of our group and will help build a potent forward line set-up for the Melbourne Football Club."

Chris Dawes is headed for a hefty pay rise as the Melbourne Demons remain in pole position to secure his services.

Dawes is currently believed to have been paid about $280,000 in 2012 but is set to earn in the region of $500,000 with a new club next year.

Collingwood say they will play hardball when it comes to trading Chris Dawes to Melbourne.

"We'll talk to Melbourne and if we can do something with them then well and good, but it certainly won't be done at the expense of what we think is a fair and equitable deal," Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh said.

"Chris made his intentions known that he would like to be traded. But we're not hell-bent on getting him out. Far from it. It may be status quo in the end. Who knows?"

Collingwood forward Chris Dawes has nominated Melbourne as his preferred home next year.

"I'm pretty confident. We've done a fair bit of work. I've been talking to Collinwood throughout the process and I'm confident they should get a deal done pretty quickly," Dawes' smanager Ben Niall said.

"[The Magpies] have been good to us and I think there's a pretty good understanding of what it will take to get it done."

Collingwood forward Chris Dawes is prepared to move from the Magpies for better opportunities.

"Chris had a good discussion with Nathan and he has been happy at Collingwood, but the change in circumstances there is such that he needs to look at other options and the club was comfortable with that," Dawes' manager Ben Niall said.

"So he will explore other options bearing in mind that he is contracted to Collingwood and has been happy there, so any move would only come about if it suited Chris and suited Collingwood in a trade sense."

Melbourne has confirmed it is interested in luring power forward Chris Dawes to the club.

"There's quite a range of tall types that we're making inquiries about, but we're just watching what happens at Collingwood so that we can make some sort of assessment about whether he is right," Tim Harrington, Melbourne's general manager of list management, said.

Melbourne confirms its interest in Chris Dawes and Josh Caddy and is also keen to talk to Sharrod Wellingham.

Nick Maxwell says he has gained a greater appreciation for ruckman after having to play as back up ruck to Darren Jolly in the absence of dropped big man Chris Dawes.

"I've got a bit more respect for Darren Jolly and the boys. It's not something I'm used to," Maxwell said.

"I just went in there and competed and did what I was asked to do. It wasn't for too long but we obviously had to give Darren a rest as he couldn't do it all on his own."

Former Bulldogs ruckman Luke Darcy says Collingwood needs forward Chris Dawes back in its line-up after Magpie Nick Maxwell was forced to contest the ruck while Darren Jolly rested.

"It doesn't help Nick Maxwell; he just gets monstered," Darcy said.

"The team loses confidence, they're trying to go third man up … they've got to get a replacement in to have a back-up for Jolly.

"I know Dawes wasn't exactly shooting the lights out in the ruck. I don't think it suits him at all. But at least he's 100 kilos, at least he's a big frame and you can get some competition from him."

Dumped Magpie forward Chris Dawes will need to train the house down to get back into the Collingwood team.

"He's obviously shattered he's out of the side. His form obviously hasn't been up to the standard that it has [been]," teammate Sam Reid said.

"David Buttifant and the fitness staff have put him on a pretty good program to really work him over in a game-like scenario as much as possible.

"We know you can't get the game style stuff at training but we can try and get that as close to possible for him and he can try and put his hand up for next week."

The Magpies finally lose patience with out-of-form Chris Dawes on the eve of the finals, dropping him from the side to face Essendon in their last regular season game of 2012.

Collingwood forward Chris Dawes says his form is starting to turn after kicking seven goals over the past five games.

"The reason why my form is starting to turn is because I haven't lost confidence," Dawes said.

"I do look at things like GPS [readings], contests I've gotten to in terms of numbers of contests, and so I say I'm doing the work, I'm not far off good games, I just need a bit more polish with the smaller things and it won't be long before I'm stringing together good games."

Pies coach Nathan Buckley has backed out-of-form forwards Travis Cloke and Chris Dawes to return to their best soon.

"If there was a work-rate issue I'd be concerned but it's not," Buckley said.

"I've got no doubt if they maintain their work ethic and preparation and their standards in both of those regards, it'll turn for them. They prepare as hard now as they ever have, and that's encouraging to see."

Chris Dawes is determined to make an impact in his new role as Collingwood's part-time ruckman.

"It should get me up closer to the ball so if I'm having a quiet game, it could be handy to come on and try and have an impact and get my hands on the footy that way," Dawes said.

"I prefer playing up forward because it's more natural to me but hopefully this ruck role is something that I can improve on and start to turn into a bit of a weapon for me."

Collingwood forward Chris Dawes has a new outlook on football after laser eye surgery.

"I heard about the surgery and they told me there was no chance of me going blind and a 99 per cent chance of me having my vision permanently corrected," Dawes said.

"I was playing with contacts, which achieved the same sort of thing [as the surgery] but it will be a slight improvement and it will help my footy in terms of being one less thing I have to worry about on game day."

Magpie Chris Dawes says breaking a knuckle against Hawthorn in round 15 affected the rest of his year.

"I probably didn't realise how tough it would be to overcome," Dawes said.

"I was pretty terrible, especially for the first few weeks I was back. I've learnt a lot from that experience, but it was disappointing. It probably hit me at the end of the year how much I'd invested in it and how exhausted I really was."

Collingwood power forward Chris Dawes has resisted offers from rival clubs, and will re-sign with the Magpies.

"Chris and his management are signing the deal this week and it's been agreed for a week," Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh said.

"It's just some minor little details that had to be worked out in relation to yesterday's announcement with the CBA. That's done now and we'll lodge the details in a timely fashion."

Collingwood key forward Chris Dawes says he will definitely remain at the club next year.

"The premiership team is always going to change each year in terms of personnel, [but] I'll be here next year, which I'm looking forward to," Dawes said.

"I reckon, with the group we've got, we've got the ability to win a few flags or at least compete for them so that's really exciting and makes this club an exciting place to be."

Chris Dawes' future at Collingwood remains delicately poised with the key forward expected to fetch a heftier salary should he choose to move clubs.

"We're not going into the conversations unrealistically. We accept to be a part of a list like theirs he's got to take a significant haircut, relative to what he'll get elsewhere," Dawes' manager Ben Niall said.

"The debate we're having is about how big a haircut is reasonable and what is reasonable for a really important key-position player in the structure of the footy team who is 23."

Chris Dawes could return to the Collingwood side as early as next week against Fremantle after eight weeks on the sidelines.

"This time of the year, you don't want to be pushing someone like him who is so important to our side to get back when he's not quite ready," teammate Scott Pendlebury said.

Collingwood forward Chris Dawes will use his enforced injury lay-off to rest niggling injuries ahead of the finals.

"I think as far as I know the surgery has gone well, or as well as it can," he said.

"I'm going to be keen to keep it as close to four [weeks] as I can but that said I won't rush it and I'll make sure I get the hand 100 per cent right before I come in and hopefully get a bit of a lead in ready for finals."

Collingwood forward Chris Dawes will miss up to six weeks after breaking a knuckle against Hawthorn.

Collingwood forward Chris Dawes knows his spot isn't safe which is driving him to perform better.

"Obviously I'm confident of staying in there because I think the setup we have up forward is working but I'm wary that a poor performance will put real heat on me for my spot," Dawes said.

"It's not as comfortable as I'd like to be but there is a strong argument to say that it is a good thing to have pressure for spots because there is pressure to perform."

Collingwood forward Chris Dawes says he's not alone in feeling insecure in the Pies' powerful line-up.

"I don't have complete comfort in my spot, and I think very few blokes in our team actually would," Dawes said.

"This is my fourth year in the AFL, and I know they harp on about big blokes taking longer, but in terms of my development, it was probably frustrating that I wasn't at the level last year.

"I think I'm capable of holding my spot in an AFL side; I'm in there at the moment so I'm comfortable, but that's what you'd expect of a fourth-year player, I think."