[5][6] He was overlooked for selection to the Under 16 National Championships in 2016, but after his an off-season growth spurt, Collier-Dawkins returned to Oakleigh and made his top flight TAC Cup debut, impressing in the early weeks of the 2017 season including with a two-goal performance against Gippsland in June that marked him as a future AFL draftee.

[10][11][12] He was selected to represent the Victorian Metropolitan region at the 2018 AFL Under 18 Championships and was among his side's best players in the second match of the tournament, kicking two goals and recording seven inside 50s as part of a win over the Allies.

[17] Though his side was not victorious in the grand final that followed, Collier-Dawkins recorded 19 disposals and kicked one goal to be named by AFL Draft Central as the Chargers' second best player of the day.

[31][32] Collier-Dawkins built slowly into the reserves season, before impacting with seven clearances in an early-May match that saw him named on the extended AFL bench ahead of final round 9 team selections.

[36][37][38] Collier-Dawkins impressed sporadically at the lower level for the remainder of the season, including with a two-goal, four tackle and 23 disposal haul in early June.

[45] Collier-Dawkins completing a full pre-season training regime across the 2019/20 summer that drew public praise from head coach Damien Hardwick.

[56][57] After two more scratch matches at reserves level including a two-goal haul against St Kilda, Collier-Dawkins moved with the main playing group when the club was relocated to the Gold Coast in response to a virus outbreak in Melbourne.

[62][63][64] A minor shoulder injury in late-August ruled out Collier-Dawkins from a likely debut in round 14, and he was ultimately unable to earn selection over the rest of the club's premiership year despite being named as an emergency on eight occasions in total.

[69][70] Following those performances and after a concussion ruled out Dustin Martin from selection in round 7, Collier-Dawkins was called up for an AFL debut in the club's match against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.