Dawes has a contract with the Magpies but indicated last week he was keen to explore his options after Collingwood recruited ruckman/forward Quinten Lynch from West Coast under free agency.
Demons coach Mark Neeld said he and assistant coach Leigh Brown had met with Dawes - a player Neeld coached at Collingwood and a former teammate of Brown's - a couple of times but Dawes was yet to make the call on where he wanted to play next season.
"We've also been told that we are one of three (clubs interested in Dawes) so at the very worst we're 33 and a bit per cent chance," Neeld said.
Gillette Trade Tracker
Neeld said he caught up with Essendon's key forward Scott Gumbleton while in Perth to meet the club's 17-year-old recruit Jesse Hogan, a player the Demons intend to pick up with the second selection in the mini-draft.
Gumbleton did not give the club an indication of his plans but Neeld said it was important for Melbourne to speak to those players who might be available.
"He (Gumbleton) does have a contract offer from Essendon and that is up to Scott," Neeld said.
"I just wanted to have a chat and he certainly, like Dawesy, plays a position that we'd like to fill at the club."
Neeld did not rule out the prospect of the Demons landing both Dawes and Gumbleton.
"That would be all right I reckon: [current Demon Mitch] Clark, Gumbleton, Dawes. They would all get a game if they were fit I reckon," he said.
Trade Machine
Neeld said the Demons would be very selective in how they used the draft picks they still had available.
The Demons still hold picks four, 20, 45 and 60 and may receive compensation picks depending on what happens during the free agency period.
