2012 Player Review - # 36 Aaron Davey

[Demonland 72,193]

Aaron was earmarked as a defensive forward - a role he had previously created early in his career. When playing as a forward, he did regularly contribute with his defensive efforts. Unfortunately, overall Aaron had a frustrating season, with both injury and form having an impact on how he performed. His final senior game was in Round 13, as he succumbed to a foot injury. We look forward to Aaron completing a full pre-season, as he is a very capable player at his best. - Paul Satterley (forward line development coach) melbournefc.com.au

Games MFC 2012 8 MFC Total 158 Goals MFC 2012 7 MFC Total 159

Games CSFC 2012 3 Goals CSFC 2012 2

MFC 51 kicks 33 handballs 84 disposals 13 marks 37 tackles

Keith "Bluey" Truscott Memorial Trophy 82 votes

[Freddy Fuschia 741]

Told he's looking fit and raring to go. Hope that he really comes back with a vengeance in 2013.

[Chook 15,013]

Told he's looking fit and raring to go. Hope that he really comes back with a vengeance in 2013.

That sound great. As far as I'm concerned, anything Davey offers us in 2013 will just be pure icing. I don't expect him to play more than a few games.

[old dee 23,791]

That sound great. As far as I'm concerned, anything Davey offers us in 2013 will just be pure icing. I don't expect him to play more than a few games.

We agree on this one chook, a bit player in 2013 is the best I can see

[beelzebub 23,376]

A bit player chiming in with some good ol cameo like efforts !! You know id be happy with that. Form aside he is a player with genuine class.

With others to carry much of the work he could actually be dangerous for a few seasons.

Wisful perhaps but hey

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Final year of a fat contract.

Big coin for playing with Casey.

[angrydee 842]

He owes us

[monoccular 17,429]

Told he's looking fit and raring to go. Hope that he really comes back with a vengeance in 2013.

That sound great. As far as I'm concerned, anything Davey offers us in 2013 will just be pure icing. I don't expect him to play more than a few games.

We agree on this one chook, a bit player in 2013 is the best I can see

He owes us

IF we get a full season out of him (which under Neeld will mean he is delivering the goods) he will be a great asset and we will definitely climb from the abyss.

IF he doesn't and we don't he will do a lot of trips to Cranny.

Edited October 20, 2012 by monoccular

[Deecisive 1,709]

Davey has been great for Melbourne in past years, doing a lot of work with very little support, shepherding or help from team mates to help him break heavy tags. A fit Davey in a team that shows a bit more physicality and having players helping him out will hopefully aide Davey to find the ball again. He is probably still one of the best in providing quality delivery of the ball, just hope his team mates can help get it to him better, he would be a major asset delivering to Clarke and Dawes.

[Je Roos Salem 661]

He can be erratic and soft in recent times..but we should play him each week, he knows the game and he's experienced and still quite quick. 19 games in 2 years hasn't been good for him and I saw enough last season to suggest he should be important for 1-3 years to come. Good experience and a face for the club and even though he's not the fan favourite he used to be i still rate him in our best few players

[monoccular 17,429]

Davey has been great for Melbourne in past years, doing a lot of work with very little support, shepherding or help from team mates to help him break heavy tags. A fit Davey in a team that shows a bit more physicality and having players helping him out will hopefully aide Davey to find the ball again. He is probably still one of the best in providing quality delivery of the ball, just hope his team mates can help get it to him better, he would be a major asset delivering to Clarke and Dawes.

Good points Deecisive regarding him getting help with a tag. We havent had the hard midfield bodies able, or maybe willing, to do this in the past. Hopefully we will have more of this in 2013 - stronger and better drilled. NO PASSENGERS.

[Brian Wilson 331]

He owes us

158 games over nine seasons coming off the rookie list. Bluey winner in 2009. What exactly does he owe us?

[jnrmac 20,065]

158 games over nine seasons coming off the rookie list. Bluey winner in 2009. What exactly does he owe us?

Fat four year contract. Won Bluey in 2009 and has been next to useless the following 3 seasons. Yes he has had some injuries but form prior to being injured, particularly in 2011, was abysmal. We have persevered with him. That's what he owes us.

Re the Mifsud episode its clear he said something to Mifsud. Not calling him a liar nor suggesting what was in the media was correct but its clear he hasn't been happy for some time and particularly with the new training regime. A contract is a two way street. He has not fulfilled his part of the bargain. I recall the game against Norf at Etihad where his body language and efforts were well below what is expected of a player of his calibre.

His best was sublime but we haven't seen that for 3 seasons. The jury is well and truly out on whether he can recapture some of that form. My bet is that he can't. I hope he proves me wrong.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Finished.

He's an experienced player.....look at Ablett break his tag. Okay, super freak, but he runs and runs and runs and runs.

Davey signed on for big coin - should have been performance based. He'd be broke if that were the case.

[Brian Wilson 331]

Fat four year contract. Won Bluey in 2009 and has been next to useless the following 3 seasons. Yes he has had some injuries but form prior to being injured, particularly in 2011, was abysmal. We have persevered with him. That's what he owes us.

Re the Mifsud episode its clear he said something to Mifsud. Not calling him a liar nor suggesting what was in the media was correct but its clear he hasn't been happy for some time and particularly with the new training regime. A contract is a two way street. He has not fulfilled his part of the bargain. I recall the game against Norf at Etihad where his body language and efforts were well below what is expected of a player of his calibre.

His best was sublime but we haven't seen that for 3 seasons. The jury is well and truly out on whether he can recapture some of that form. My bet is that he can't. I hope he proves me wrong.

Are we really that quick to turn on our players?

He wasn't 'next to useless' in 2010. He had 10 Brownlow votes. Granted 2011 and 2012 were poor by his standards. Do you know enough about his training and attitude to say that he 'has not fulfilled his part of the bargain'? Injury has restricted him to just 11 games in 2011 and 8 in 2012.

I was at the North game too and yes, it was a sad day for Davey (and nearly every other MFC player) but let's not crucify him based on one game.

I don't think that the 'Misfud episode' is a solid basis on which to make any claims about Davy, or anyone else at MFC.

[angrydee 842]

158 games over nine seasons coming off the rookie list. Bluey winner in 2009. What exactly does he owe us?

The money he's been overpaid for the last 2 years for little effort. It's not the number of games played that count.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Are we really that quick to turn on our players?

He wasn't 'next to useless' in 2010. He had 10 Brownlow votes. Granted 2011 and 2012 were poor by his standards. Do you know enough about his training and attitude to say that he 'has not fulfilled his part of the bargain'? Injury has restricted him to just 11 games in 2011 and 8 in 2012.

Fair comment. But his on field attitude particularly from a team leader was at times appalling.

I was at the North game too and yes, it was a sad day for Davey (and nearly every other MFC player) but let's not crucify him based on one game.

The pity is that he has exhibit an immature body language at a number of games. Its not just one game but that game was bad.

I don't think that the 'Misfud episode' is a solid basis on which to make any claims about Davy, or anyone else at MFC.

I think you would be naive to simply ignore it. There is no doubt that Mifsud should have been sacked for his appalling behavior. But you would be naive to think Mifsud made it all up.

Davey has another year on his contract. Anything we get out of him this year is a bonus. It is last year at MFC. I cant see Neeld wanting to keep him.

[poita 3,902]

He doesn't work hard enough on or off the field, and has clearly lost a couple of yards of pace. I wish he would just kick through the ball instead of trying for dinky little chip kicks all the time. Does anyone think he would be here still if not contracted?

I am happy for Aaron to get a game in 2013 if, and only if, his form warrants it, but I would certainly be starting him at Casey and making him earn a game, rather than gifting him a spot that is his to lose.

[DemonWA 3,934]

I feel sorry for Aaron Davey. Was a gun forward, then was asked to play HBF/Mid becasue he was the only player on the list that could hit a target by foot, then he got tagged and the media had a field day on him for all of the shortcomings in his game. Give him a full preseason and play him in a role that suits his fitness levels and theres no reason he cant be a valuable player for us again

[Newcomer 2]

Overall career wise...he's been great off the rookie list.

But these dats he's not physical enough for the modern game to be small fwd or defender.

So I think he's limited to playing wing...could provide the badly needed spread with foot skills. That relies on (1) a huge pre-season; (2) teams no longer tagging him because of his form fallout in the last 2 seasons; and (3) him getting some confidence back.

I would have thought he plays rd 1 but no longer gets excuses. If form is not there...straight to Casey.

[jnrmac 20,065]

I feel sorry for Aaron Davey. Was a gun forward, then was asked to play HBF/Mid becasue he was the only player on the list that could hit a target by foot, then he got tagged and the media had a field day on him for all of the shortcomings in his game. Give him a full preseason and play him in a role that suits his fitness levels and theres no reason he cant be a valuable player for us again

Was better value as a gun fwd than taking cheap h'balls from Jamar and dinking them 15m. Drops his rag too easily and doesn't appear to have the pace anymore sadly..