A sad novice confused by dodges (10)

I believe the answer is:

avoidances

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'dodges' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'a sad novice confused' is the wordplay.
'confused' indicates anagramming the letters.
'sad'+'novice'='sadnovice'
'sadnovice' anagrammed gives 'voidances'.
'a'+'voidances'='AVOIDANCES'

'by' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times and the Irish Times (Crosaire).

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