Former Collingullie-Glenfield Park defender Stephen Dawson is set trade his Sherrin in for a Wilson after landing a two-year college football scholarship in the United States.
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The 21-year-old featured in the Demons’ charge to the Riverina League grand final last year and looked set to continue his playing career at Crossroads Oval before an overseas opportunity emerged.
“I’d been thinking about playing abroad and heard about potentially getting involved in American football, so I started looking into it,” Dawson said.
“I ended up going down to Melbourne for a trial back in December and had a bit of a run around there with Prokick Australia.
“They offered me a spot on the program and I’ve been training ever since.”
Dawson said the program, which centres around transitioning Australian Rules footballers into punting and goalkicking prospects in American football, specifically looks at adjustments to kicking technique.
“A lot of guys involved in the program sometimes find it tough to get used to the new ball and using a spiral punt,” he said.
“But I played rugby union as a junior and I think that was good to have some experience kicking off a tee and using my instep, so I was able to get used to it a little easier.
“It still takes some getting used too and there’s not a lot of room for error on those balls.”
Hard work certainly pays dividends and Dawson’s reward – a full scholarship to Murray State University in Kentucky – was no exception.
The offer might have come “a little earlier than expected” for Dawson but Collingullie-GP coach Luke Gestier wasn’t surprised to see his former charge finding success.
“He’s a quiet achiever and it’s a credit to him the way he’s gone about it,” Gestier said.
“He’s worked pretty hard to come back after a knee injury and I also know that he’s a pretty studious bloke, so I take my hat off to him.
“He’s definitely stepped out of his comfort zone.”
There’s still plenty to do before Wagga’s latest export lands on American soil.
“I’ve still got to sort out visas and stuff before I head off in July,” Dawson said.
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