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Dawson, 25, was the biggest name in the AFL’s final senior list selection process for this year when he was Fremantle’s pre-season draft pick on Tuesday.

Dawson's first showdown with his former Saints teammates will be back at Etihad Stadium on April 20 in Round 4.

The last senior player list selections before clubs finalise squads for the 2012 premiership showdown did not throw lifelines to AFL bad boy Brendan Fevola, disgruntled former Collingwood two-times All-Australian Leon Davis, nor sacked St Kilda veteran hard nut Steve Baker.

Another former Magpies All-Australian Paul Medhurst and Sydney 2005 premiership forward Paul Bevan were also overlooked.

Bevan, 27, is tipped to continue his playing days in Western Australia with Perth in the WAFL competition.

Bevan played 129 games with the Swans and has been training in the west for several weeks and is expected to confirm intentions to remain with Perth within days now that he has missed an AFL recall.

Dawson walked out on the Saints when he couldn’t settle a contract dispute at the end of this season and will now continue his career under his Saints coach of the past three years Ross Lyon.

Dawson was among only five selections in the pre-season draft conducted online by AFL clubs from around the nation.

Newcomers Greater Western Sydney elected not to take a player in the pre-season draft, as predicted was a prospect by coach Kevin Sheedy leading into the selections.

Gold Coast selected Aaron Hall and Richmond took Brett O'Hanlon from the Dandenong Stingrays. 

Dawson’s former Saints teammate Andrew McQualter also received a call-back when he was taken by Gold Coast in the rookie draft while nuggety former North Melbourne on-baller Gavin Urquhart was overlooked by Port Adelaide.

Port turned their back Urquhart who has been training in Adelaide in a bid to resurrect his career with the switch interstate.

After training with Richmond for almost two months, former Collingwood utility John McCarthy was a surprise late mover to Port Adelaide while the Western Bulldogs took Fletcher Roberts.

Roberts, 18, is a key forward who booted five goals in the under-18s grand final to lead Sandringham Dragons to their first premiership since 1999. 

Dawson launched his career seven years ago with Hawthorn but only managed 14 games in four years at the Hawks and was the fourth player taken in Tuesday’s draft for senior list players.

He played 63 of a possible 74 games in his three seasons under Lyon, including three grand finals in 2009 and 2010, when the Saints tied last year and then lost to Collingwood a week later.

McCarthy, at 22, was a highly regarded second round national draft pick and 31 overall in 2007 but now wants better senior playing chances with his interstate switch.

McCarthy played only 10 games with the Pies in the past two seasons and offers important versatility to Port's midfield.