Jordan Dawson, the captain of the Adelaide Crows, has returned to training with the team as he prepares to make his comeback this weekend.
He has been absent from the last two games due to the passing of his older brother.
This Sunday, the Crows will travel to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to compete against the Richmond Tigers.
Adelaide anticipates benefiting from Dawson’s presence, viewing him as a vital asset during this unusual visit to the MCG to face Richmond.
The 29-year-old has been sidelined for two of the last three matches but has resumed training this week, positioning him as a significant addition for the upcoming game.
“He brings a lot of energy to our team,” stated Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks during a press conference on Thursday. “The players really appreciate having him with us; he has been around all week and is eager to take the field.”
“We will conduct today’s training to ensure everything is in order, but we anticipate his participation this weekend.”
Dawson missed a narrow victory over St Kilda, returned for a substantial defeat against Brisbane, and then sat out the close win against rival team Port Adelaide.
“It was intriguing to observe ‘Daws’ during our match in Brisbane and the variety of emotions he experienced,” Nicks remarked. “When he stepped onto the field, he had a genuine smile, reconnecting with what he loves—being with his teammates and playing football, and he performed admirably in that match. However, the emotional weight hit him post-game as he faced the reality of his loss.”
Following a disappointing exit in the finals as minor premiers last year, Adelaide has had a slow start to the 2026 season. However, the team has regained some momentum with victories in three of their last four matches, building confidence as they approach upcoming games against Richmond, North Melbourne at home, and Hawthorn away before their mid-season break.
“While we aren’t at our peak yet, we feel quite optimistic about the direction of our game,” Nicks commented. “We’re beginning to see more of the structure and cohesion we developed last year. This time last year, we were perhaps performing too well too soon, so each season teaches us valuable lessons.”
This season, Adelaide has only two home-and-away matches scheduled at the MCG and is keen to leave a lasting impression at the venue, where they previously secured a 14-point victory against Collingwood in round one.
“These matches serve as excellent preparation for us, challenging ourselves to perform on that stage,” Nicks added. “We genuinely enjoy playing there.”
