KEY forward Chris Dawes should be OK for next Saturday afternoon’s clash against Hawthorn, according to coach Paul Roos.

Speaking after Melbourne’s loss to the Sydney Swans, Roos said Dawes hadn’t torn his calf during the match, after he missed round five with a calf problem.

“He actually hadn’t done a calf, but it was more of a cramp,” he said.

“It’s a credit that he fought his way through. We were really clear with the medical staff [and asked] ‘how’s he going?’ He was struggling to push off a little bit and we’re trying to manage those issues.

“But I thought to his credit, he worked really hard and worked his way into the game.”

Meanwhile, Roos praised the performance of key defender Tom McDonald, who managed to keep Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin goalless.

Although Franklin still managed 22 disposals, it was with the first time since round four last year that Buddy had been held goalless.

“He’s (McDonald) really quick, he’s a good athlete and he’s a competitor, and he’s able to action the things we talk about during the week, which allows him to play well and play well for six weeks,” Roos said.