Dawes and the club contested the charge of striking handed down by the AFL match review panel earlier in the week for contact he made with Richmond’s Reece Conca during Friday night’s win.
The part-time Victoria University student felt at ease during proceedings and was confident in having the charges dismissed.
“My studies gave me a bit of confidence and I understood everything they were talking about,” Dawes told collingwoodfc.com.au on Wednesday.
“I was pretty calm in there and I was able to plead by case.
“I was confident with the footage we had I was going to be able to prove that it was accidental and not negligent.”
The 22-year-old was surprised when club administrators told him of the charge on Monday afternoon.
“The boys told me I had been rubbed out for a week and I had not been expecting that at all.
“When I was told about it I remembered the incident, but given the umpires didn’t pay a free kick, I thought it was such minor accidental contact.
“I thought I was going to be fine.”
Dawes is now in line to play just his second ANZAC Day match and his 35th senior game for his career when the team runs out on Monday.
