Chris Dawes leads out the Demons ahead of their NAB Cup against North Melbourne. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images
Chris Dawes marks the ball ahead of Luke Delaney. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images
CHRIS Dawes has urged Melbourne supporters to judge his team as a collective and not as a bunch of new players cobbled together this off-season.
The Demons squad for matches against North Melbourne and Richmond last night contained five draftees, five recycled players and Jesse Hogan, the club's GWS mini-draft pick unable to play senior footy until next season.
Dawes said it was OK to get excited about the club's new talent throughout the NAB Cup, but how those players come together as a team for the season proper is all that really counts.
"There's probably slightly more new players than a regular intake each year,'' Dawes said.
"But let's also not forget that the majority of the team is who was there 12 months ago.
"At this time of year you focus on what's new, the changes, but once the season gets underway it'll be forgotten about pretty quickly that there are new faces and we'll just be judged on our performances rather than how long we've been at the club.''
Speaking at the club's family day at Luna Park this morning, Dawes said the form of father-son selection Jack Viney and top draft pick Jimmy Toumpas was encouraging.
"I didn't see much of the Richmond match because I only played the North game and was inside recovering, but it sounds like Jimmy Toumpas kicked a goal and was lively,'' he said.
North Melbourne finish the NAB Cup triple-header against Melbourne and Richmond undefeated while the Tigers prove too good for the Demons.
"He's a really classy ball user and a good decision maker. It sounds like he went OK and will be a good player.
"Viney, has that burst speed out of packs and is a pretty tough player too. There's a lot to get excited about and it was a good hit out for those two young boys.
"As well as preparing for Round 1 you hope that individuals can find some form and I was impressed with a number of our new players - older guys like (Shannon) Byrnes and (David) Rodan as well as young Jesse Hogan, Dean Kemp who I thought impressed as well."
Dawes, playing his first game for the Dees since making the off-season switch from Collingwood, said he was happy with his form.
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But the forward conceded a calf niggle was still causing him some grief.
"The calf is OK. I probably would have played a little bit more game time ideally, but it was just one of those things, it was starting to tighten up.
"Had it been a normal season game I would have kept playing, but it was NAB (game) one, there was no need to push it at all.''
Melbourne plays Port Adelaide in Renmark next Sunday, a trip Dawes doesn't expect to make.
"I'm not even sure how many players we'll take there,'' he said.
"But I think the plan will probably be that I'll rest up next week and play the final two NAB Cup games.''
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