The 2023 season was one of growth for the Adelaide Football Club. 

From a pair of Showdown victories to opening Gather Round in style, the campaign was filled with memorable moments.

Across the next few months we will look back on the 2023 season by hearing from the players who helped define it.

Welcome to AFC Media’s Reflections series. 

When Jordan Dawson took over the captaincy of the Adelaide Football Club, just one year after arriving at West Lakes, a mountain of responsibility fell onto his shoulders.

He was set to follow in the footsteps of Crows greats such as Mark Ricciuto, Simon Goodwin, Mark Bickley, Taylor Walker and Rory Sloane, becoming the face of the next phase in the Club’s journey. 

But when it comes to Dawson, there is nothing he loves more than taking on a challenge. 

Across the 2023 season, the Robe product proved he was the perfect man for the job, growing in stature every week and providing inspiration to his fellow teammates both on and off the field. 

In terms of his own performance, it was clear the extra responsibility agreed with him, as he claimed his first Club Champion award, received All-Australian honours and polled a career-high 20 Brownlow Medal votes.

Speaking to AFC Media as part of its Reflections series, Dawson said taking on the Captaincy had been “super rewarding.”

“I have absolutely loved it (the Captaincy),” Dawson said. 

“It’s been challenging, it’s been hard work, but at the same time it’s been super rewarding and I’ve loved the extra responsibility. 

“I probably didn’t realise how much I would enjoy it, and from my end, it’s about continuing to grow in the leadership space and helping our young and exciting group grow over the next few years.”

Dawson said the transition into the top job had been made easier with the presence of Adelaide’s past two captains in Rory Sloane and Taylor Walker. 

He said the duo were critical to his development as a leader, providing important pieces of advice along the way.

“Tex and Sloaney have been massive for me this year, they are both different leaders but great leaders in their own right,” Dawson said.

“To have both of their opinions and thoughts to bounce off has been great, they haven’t been overbearing in the way they want me to go about it. 

“They are just there to listen to me and want to help me as much as they can, so whenever I need any advice they are more than happy to give their two cents, but have also given me the space I need to be my own leader.”

Being his “own leader” has been a pivotal part to his early success in the role.

“I am pretty measured and composed as a leader, I just want to get the best out of my teammates,” Dawson said. 

“I am super competitive and am desperate to bring success here, so my biggest thing is driving the elite standards we have set as a Club and ensuring everyone is on board with the values we have put in place.”

When it comes to his on-field performance in 2023, a shift to the midfield helped the 26-year-old unlock his best football. 

After starting his career as a defender, Dawson continually worked on his midfield craft in the hope of one day getting the call to join the on-ball brigade.

That day came prior to Adelaide’s Round Three victory against Port Adelaide, and as they say, the rest was history.

“Moving into the midfield has been great and something I have wanted to do for a while,” Dawson said.

“At the start of the year it was identified that we needed a different mix in the middle and a spot presented itself which was great.

“Although I didn’t go into the midfield until that Round Three Showdown, over the pre-season I had done a lot of training with the on ballers, so when the time came where I was needed in there I was ready.

“Over the season I feel I’ve really grown into the role and the extra responsibility it entails, and I already can’t wait to get back to work over the pre-season and continue to develop my craft as an on-baller.” 

The 2023 season has served as a perfect platform for Dawson’s journey as an AFL captain. 

Moving into 2024 and beyond he said he could not wait to build on what he had learned this year and continue to take charge of an exciting group of players.

“It’s amazing to be part of this group and what we are building,” Dawson said. 

“As a group we are extremely hard working, are desperate to get better and you can see that in the off-season where there are 15-20 of us training together offsite. 

“We know we have to get better, the competition demands it, and it’s not just going to happen next year. 

“But I’m really bullish that the list we have will take us to great heights, and to be the leader is such a fortunate position to be in.”