INDIGINE - PART NINE

INDIGINE - PART NINE by Whispering Jack

"Well it seems like the sun comes up each mornin'

Sets me up and takes it all away

For the dreaming by the light 

Of the camp fire at night

Ends with the burning light of day".

- Hugh McDonald (Diamantina Drover)

Like many of Melbourne players, Aaron Davey's 2011 was not his best season with the club. He languished with lack of form, an injury that ultimately cost him many games and he laboured on his return, physically incapable of performing at his best. In the end, the frustrations spilled over and he earned a suspension for an indiscretion in a late season game against Richmond. Davey was clearly in need of some rest followed by the hard work of a pre season to get him back into the shape required to enable him to continue with his leadership role and as a mentor to the indigenous players within his club.

The 177cm 74kg Davey burst onto the AFL scene in 2004 after some sensational pre-season Wizard Cup games as an exciting young rookie with immense pace and silky kicking skills and finished the year as runner-up to team mate Jared Rivers for the year's AFL Rising Star and winner of the AFLPA Best First Year Player award.

Selected in the previous year's rookie draft, Davey  was elevated in time for the first game of the 2004 season to become a cult figure at the Melbourne Football Club. His blistering acceleration, evasive footwork and goal sense were outstanding as was his ability to effortlessly run down and tackle opponents in the space of a few strides. The youngster's stellar debut season was interrupted by a hamstring injury in round 16 against the Western Bulldogs at the Telstra Dome but he managed to return for the club's brief finals campaign.

The career of the man they called "Flash" flourished in the following years. He played every game of 2005 including a final, finished third in the club best and fairest behind Travis Johnstone and Russell Robertson and was included in the International Rules squad under Kevin Sheedy. Davey won the AFL Players Association Marn Grook Award for Best Emerging Indigenous Player.

The arrival of Byron Pickett in 2006 and some added bulk had a positive effect on Davey. He became a versatile player and coach Neale Daniher  used him more in the midfield and even in defence. He still ventured forward and earned three goal of the week nominations with his uncanny knack of kicking seemingly impossible goals.

It was a much more mature and confident Davey who turned out for the Indigenous All-Stars in a 2007 pre-season game against Essendon, where he re-injured his hamstring but he was back to his best form early in the season, starred against the Western Bulldogs, collecting 29 disposals and kicking three goals, in Round 7. However, his increasing aggression saw him suspended for two games for striking at The Gabba in round 15 but by this time, the wheels had fallen off the Demons' season and Daniher was gone. 

Davey's first season under Dean Bailey in 2008 was hampered by injuries. The team slumped to rock bottom.

He grew in stature in 2009 as he resurrected himself as a player. He starred for the Indigenous All-Stars against Adelaide in the pre-season game and started the year strongly in the midfield with more stints as a defender who could run through lines and deliver the ball with impeccable accuracy.  Despite the club's continuing poor performances, Davey was a shining light and he won the Keith "Bluey" Truscott Medal for the club's Best and Fairest player.

Now, a leader of the club, Davey's form was instrumental in its improvement during 2010. He finished fourth in the Best and Fairest and was equal leading vote-getter, with Colin Sylvia in the Brownlow Medal voting.

Davey's tribal ancestry can be traced to the Kokatha in South Australia. Davey was born on 10 June, 1983. His father Alwyn passed away  when he was nine years old and he has often praised his mother Lizzie who raised him and his brother Essendon's Alwyn Junior in Darwin. 

He came under notice as a forward pocket  for the Palmerston Football Club and moved to Melbourne to play for VFL side Port Melbourne Football where he was awarded the Fothergill-Round Medal for the competition's most promising youngster.

He has been an impressive ambassador for his people and has been active in promoting sport, health and education among indigenous communities.

The Flash certainly experienced a down year in 2011 but he has shown resilience and the ability to recover in the past. As sure as he recovered from the disappointment of injury in 2008 to win the Bluey in 2009, the Demon community looks forward to a fresh and revitalised Davey turning things around in  2012 as the burning light comes of a brand new day for the Demons.

TO BE CONTINUED

This series is written in honour of the late Matthew Wonaeamirri, father of current Melbourne player Austin. Our hearts go out to all of the family.