His older brother John Henry Adamson (1873–1937) also played for South Melbourne in both the VFA and VFL.
[7] Adamson was then transferred back to Melbourne with his work with the Bank of Australasia in late 1896[8] and was given a Valedictory by his Traralgon football and cricket teammates and colleagues prior to his departure.
[11] Dave captained South Melbourne in 1899 and led the club all the way to the 1899 VFL Grand Final, where he played fullback in a narrow one point loss to Fitzroy.
[12][13] In early 1914 Adamson transferred from Tallangatta, Victoria to Western Australia with the Bank of Australasia.
[14] He was found dead in bed at the bank's Beverley branch on 10 October 1914, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his temple.