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Dawson decision to spur Swans

by Brendan Leicester

SWAN Districts officials say coach Brian Dawson’s shock announcement to leave his position at season’s end will help, not hinder the club come finals time.

Dawson, who is an Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry Professor at the University of Western Australia said he would be leaving in order to pursue overseas work commitments in 2011.

Those work commitments are understood to be with an internationally recognised organisation in Japan, where he has been pencilled in to take on a lucrative sports science role.

Club president Peter Harvey said Dawson’s decision was a massive loss, but acknowledged the contribution he has made to the club in three short seasons.

“We couldn’t ask for any more from Brian in his role and how people that are involved in footy clubs should be remembered is that they leave the place better than they found it,” Harvey said.

“In our case that’s certainly how it is with Brian. His win-loss record is going to be one of the highest ever at this footy club in 76 years of our history, so that’s outstanding.”

That record, with one round left, plus a finals series currently sits at 36 wins, 20 losses and three draws since he joined Swans as league coach in 2008.

Only time will tell how Dawson’s announcement will affect the club’s finals campaign, however football manager Matt Peach believes irrespective of the outcome, he has done a fantastic job.

“It’s obviously a massive loss for the club in seeing someone of his calibre go, and whoever it is that comes to fill that loss has some big shoes to fill,” he said.

“Daws has already established with the playing group that he doesn’t want this last month to be all about him, and hopefully if anything that will spur them on to go all the way.”

The club wouldn’t speculate on whether reserves coach Greg Harding would be the likely candidate to replace Dawson, but instead took aim at an online news source for publishing unfounded reports about their outgoing coach.

“It’s a little frustrating, unfortunately the print media in WA don’t check their facts or even attempt to in most cases,” Swans president Peter Harvey said on SportFM yesterday.

“The rumours were that Brian was going to be coaching at Perth Football Club next year, and (that he would) take several of our team players with him, and supposedly be the reserves team for the West Coast Eagles.”

Harvey said “all three of those items were clearly not true” which is reportedly the reason why Dawson had to reveal his decision now instead of after the finals.