Emotional scenes as Adelaide fans pay tribute to grief-stricken skipper Jordan Dawson

Adelaide fans pay tribute to Jordan Dawson

Adelaide fans have paid respect to captain Jordan Dawson with an emotional tribute during Saturday night’s clash against St Kilda.

Dawson was in attendance at the ground, but didn’t play after the tragic death of his brother Jaryd during the week.

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In the 12th minute of the first quarter, the entire crowd rose as one to give a round of applause for their grief-stricken skipper.

It was a nod to the No.12 Dawson wears on his back.

The Adelaide captain was in tears as he was briefly shown on the coverage, sitting next to his wife Milly.

“It would be very emotional for Jordan, you can see it there. Just an awful week,” Adelaide great Mark Ricciuto said on Fox Footy.

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Speaking after Adelaide secured a thrilling one-point victory, veteran Taylor Walker said the standing ovation was a “special moment” and paid tribute to the Dawsons.

“Really challenging week for our football club. I think when things happen like this in footy clubs, the best place to be is a footy club,” he said.

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“We’re going to wrap our arms around the Dawsons for a long time.

“It will be nice to get the skipper back when he’s ready so this is for all the Dawson family.”

Coach Matthew Nicks appeared to mention the family tragedy to his players in an emotional pre-match address.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon also said they have “incredible empathy for the situation” when he spoke pre-match.

Jaryd was found dead on Wednesday following a 24-hour search in South Australia’s south east.

The 35-year-old new father had gone missing on Tuesday afternoon but police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Jaryd recently became a father to a baby boy last September, nearly a year after he and wife Jessica tied the not.

Jessica has shared a series of touching tributes on social media in the past days.

On Thursday, she shared the last photo she took of her late husband with their baby boy.

“The last photo I took of my two boys, just two days prior,” she wrote on Instagram.

“I was feeling so incredibly rich in life. Now my heart is shattered into a million pieces. Huddy and I will love you and miss you forever and ever and ever.”

She followed that up with the final photo of herself and Jaryd.

“The last photo taken of us. I miss you,” she wrote.

Crows stars such as Josh Rachele and Luke Nankervis, and AFLW gun Maddy Prespakis were among the thousands to react to Jessica’s tributes

Like his brother, Jaryd also played football and is vice-captain of the Robe Roosters reserves side. He was a key member of the 2024 premiership-winning team, kicking seven goals in the grand final.