Half an hour later, Dawson took the mic again.
The session had wound down gradually, and the intensity was dropping off, leaving the players loose and the fans still engaged.
When the staff member handed Dawson the microphone for the second time that afternoon, the stands gave him their attention without being asked.
"I'll keep it short," he said.
"You've been brilliant today, genuinely. And what you've seen out here this afternoon, we're going to take that into this league, and we're going to make it count."
"That's a promise, and thank you all for coming."
The applause came back up, warm and full, and before it had peaked, Fletcher had already picked up a ball and launched it into the stands and that triggered the rest of the players to do the same.
Balls went up into the east end, the west end, one sailing wide and landing two rows above where it was aimed, with the launcher holding his hands up in apology.
