2009 season
After playing the final six games of 2008, many believed Chris Dawes would find a permanent role in the Magpie senior forward line the following year.

The 2009 season did not meet the 21-year-olds expectations as he was only able to manage four AFL games.Â

He played 18 games for the VFL side and was the second leading goal kicker for the side with 29 goals including kicking a bag of five in the Box Hill win in round five.

Dawes utilised his extreme overhead strength to become a marking force inside the forward 50 averaging 4.8 per game, fourth most for the side.

The senior match committee called upon Dawes’ services for three late-season rounds to serve as a back-up ruckman for an injured Josh Fraser.  Dawes finished out the remainder of the season, including finals, in the VFL.

The retirement of Anthony Rocca should help Dawes’ case in 2010, however the addition of Darren Jolly will add a certain level of intrigue over how the forward line, under the guidance of Nathan Buckley, will function.

Career
The club's third pick at No. 28 overall in the 2006 AFL Draft spent most of 2007 recovering from a knee reconstruction he underwent late in 2006.  After playing six games in the senior side at the end of the 2008 season, Dawes only managed four matches in 2009.Â

Draft history:
2006 AFL Draft 2nd round selection (Collingwood) No. 28 overall