Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
· collected 2026-08-25 · by Scott Spits
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Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson was recognized for his leadership on Tuesday at the AFL awards night, being named the league's best captain for the second year in a row. He also received the Robert Rose most courageous award, beating out Zak Butters and Brayden Maynard. This is Dawson's second year as Crows skipper, during which he experienced personal tragedy with the loss of his older brother Jaryd. In his speech, Dawson emphasized the importance of mental health, urging those struggling to know that "you are enough, you are loved".
Written by the local model on 2026-08-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Here is the summary of the article:
Jordan Dawson, captain of the Adelaide team, has spoken about his struggles with mental health after losing his older brother Jaryd during the year. He was recognized as the AFL's most courageous player for season 2026 by the Australian Football Players Association (AFLPA). In a speech at the AFL awards night, Dawson revealed that it had been "a struggle" to cope with his loss. This recognition comes after another impressive season from an individual perspective. Meanwhile, Jagga Smith, a young midfielder from Carlton, was awarded the AFL Rising Star for this year.
Written for “AFL Season and Awards” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 2182 · logged 2026-08-27
Adelaide skipper Jordan Dawson has spoken passionately about the importance of mental health after he tragically lost his older brother Jaryd during the year.
asserted
he → speak → year
Dawson posted an emotional tribute to his older brother on social media in April.
asserted
Dawson → post → April
It read: “My brother.
asserted
It → read → ?
The hole in my heart hurts so bad pal but I know you’re at peace you made me who I am today and I’m going to pass every bit of that competitive, stubborn, caring and passionate nature onto your beautiful boy.
asserted
I → hurt → boy
Huddy and Jess have an army behind them.
asserted
Huddy → have → them
I’lI miss you and love you forever Rod.”
asserted
I’lI → miss → you
On stage at the AFL awards night on Tuesday, Dawson was asked how he’d coped with the circumstances.
asserted
he → ask → circumstances
“It’s been a struggle,” he said candidly.
asserted
he → say → ?
Finally, the backline is being announced:
asserted
backline → announce → ?
It’s great news for Carlton fans, with a particularly popular winner here: Gun young midfielder Jagga Smith is this year’s AFL Rising Star winner.
asserted
Smith → ’ → winner
Not only is Adelaide’s star captain Jordan Dawson the AFL’s best captain as voted by his peers for the second year in a row, he’s also been named the AFLPA’s most courageous player for season 2026.
And it’s not hard to see why.
asserted
it → vote → season
After another stunning season from an individual perspective, on-field, Dawson has had to experience unimaginable heartbreak off it – the loss of his older brother Jaryd.
Jordan Dawson, who’s known for letting his actions on the field do his talking, just gave a brilliant speech about not just footy, but life, pleading with anyone going through a hard time mentally: “You are enough, you are loved”.
Support is available from Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 and Lifeline on 13 11 14.
asserted
Support → have → 14
Richmond players seen striking each other with belts in footage taken during Mad Monday celebrations have expressed embarrassment about their behaviour but denied they were mocking the scandal engulfing the Swans.
The Tigers released a statement on Tuesday afternoon in which they said they had questioned the players about their conduct at the Garfield Hotel in Gippsland on Monday.
asserted
they → see → Monday
“Richmond is aware of a video circulating from a player end of season gathering,” the statement said.
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statement → circulate → gathering
First up, the AFLPA best captain award goes to ... Adelaide’s Jordan Dawson.
asserted
award → go → Dawson
In his second year as Crows skipper, Dawson earned top billing for the second time.
asserted
Dawson → earn → time
He placed ahead of Melbourne’s Max Gawn and Fremantle’s Alex Pearce and joins two-time Crows best captains Mark Ricciuto (2005, 2006) and Taylor Walker (2016, 2017).
asserted
He → place → Ricciuto
The players’ association’s best first-year player award goes to young Carlton defender Harry Dean.
asserted
award → go → Dean
That’s fitting recognition for a great season.
asserted
That → ’ → season
He has just been announced as the winner of the Robert Rose most courageous award, beating home Zak Butters and Brayden Maynard.
asserted
He → announce → Butters
Nick Daicos has become a multiple winner of the AFLPA most valuable player award.
asserted
Daicos → become → award
Daicos was presented with the Leigh Matthews Trophy by the man, himself, after he was voted by his peers ahead of three-time winner Marcus Bontempelli and Adelaide’s Jordan Dawson.
asserted
he → present → Bontempelli
One of the early awards on the night has just been announced ...
The AFLCA champion player of the year is, unsurprisingly, Nick Daicos.
asserted
player → announce → year
The Collingwood star and red-hot Brownlow favourite might pick up a full range of awards tonight.
uncertain
star → pick → awards
