 He had his best year in 1976 when he kicked 26 goals and was a rover in the 1976 VFL Grand Final loss to Hawthorn.Despite playing in the winning 1978 Preliminary Final team he was dropped for the Grand Final and never played VFL football again.After turning down an offer from South Australian National Football League (SANFL) club Woodville Football Club, Dawson was traded by North Melbourne to fellow SANFL club Port Adelaide in 1979 in return for Russell Ebert.