Just checking in with all the critics, were 4 weeks out from nab cup and every report I have seen is boasting positive signs for Aaron. Looking fitter, skills sharp, running improving. A few said he wouldn't make it through pre season without retiring. I watched him in competitive drills last week and he was a stand out. Clean, agile and strong in the contest. Fingers crossed he gets a kick on game day.

As much as "standing out" at a half baked training session in the first week of January in a team that finished a distant 16th last year is a major achievement, I think I will hold off recanting my previous criticism until Aaron bothers putting in on match day.

Of course, most senior MFC players in the past decade have managed to extract the digit in the last year of a contract, so why would Aaron be any different. Perhaps if his contract has been sufficiently front loaded the weight of his wallet will stop weighing him down and he can recapture some of his old speed and skills.

No limp, no bandaged knee, moving freely. He is looking good, I hope he can stay injury free and get a full pre season. He will be a real bonus for us if he can.

As much as "standing out" at a half baked training session in the first week of January in a team that finished a distant 16th last year is a major achievement, I think I will hold off recanting my previous criticism until Aaron bothers putting in on match day.

Of course, most senior MFC players in the past decade have managed to extract the digit in the last year of a contract, so why would Aaron be any different. Perhaps if his contract has been sufficiently front loaded the weight of his wallet will stop weighing him down and he can recapture some of his old speed and skills.

Well if that's the case guess we can't say anything positive about a single player over the pre season until we win a flag because he has been one of our better trainers in the sessions I've been too. So everyone else on our list must be horrible. In fact we may as well delete this site.

As much as "standing out" at a half baked training session in the first week of January in a team that finished a distant 16th last year is a major achievement, I think I will hold off recanting my previous criticism until Aaron bothers putting in on match day.

Of course, most senior MFC players in the past decade have managed to extract the digit in the last year of a contract, so why would Aaron be any different. Perhaps if his contract has been sufficiently front loaded the weight of his wallet will stop weighing him down and he can recapture some of his old speed and skills.

Poita you been to a training session this preseason, can't recall any "half baked" sessions in the 3 I've seen or any of the multiple reports from all other sessions...

Davey still lags behind most other players in repeat sprints but he has improved but all players have improved. He has inproved as all players have in most other areas witnessed as well, his foot skills over 30-40m are close to the best at the club. Here is hoping Davey and all players put that on show game day.

Assuming Davey is fit again, it will be nice to have Davey, Blease and Byrnes as our small forward options this year.

Promising signs. If he stays fit and gets firing he could be a huge factor in our climb back up the ladder.

Davey, Byrnes and Blease at the feet of Pedersen, Dawes and Clark, with Howie and Sylvia floating through. That sounds like a pretty presentable forwardline to me.

i think we'd all like to see the old flash back

so far signs are positive

...... for someone who came into the game as a pacy goalsneak, his pace as deteriorated somewhat.

Understatement of the year

Although he won his B&F primarily playing on ball, I wonder whether the physical efforts required (crunching tackles, endurance running) caused Davey's decline. If so, that was another mistake by the footy department at the time (although admittedly easier to recognise in hindsight). Perhaps playing small forward with just an occasional turn on ball might rejuvenate his body and his career.

I think this year he will only be a fringe player at best, heres hoping to Flash back to his best out there looking dangerous but I believe the game has passed him by.

There is a larger emphasis on speed now when players are recruited then when Flash was at his peak 5 years ago. Also with more rotations keeping players fresher we saw the pace of Flash make a significantly less impact over time. The game has changed quite a bit in not a lot of time.

Although he clearly was injured last year it's positive to hear that he is getting through training and looking ok. I hope he can get some games as a couple goals by the man will lift the team as they clearly all love him around. (note - haven't heard or seen this, just assuming after reading the training reports)

Doubt he will have an impact this year but as I said, would love nothing more than to be proven wrong.

As I posted by Flying Cloud on 22 May 2012 - 03:22 PM in Melbourne Demons

Just checked -

Alwyn Davey 2012 - Average Disposals 13.7, Average Tackles 2.7
Aaron Davey 2012 - Average Disposals 10.1, Average Tackles 4.6

Aaron is 64th in league for tackles and 5th in the team.

Not the best best in the team but far from the worst.

Was never a fan in his heyday. But if he's fit he adds depth and competition for spots.

ran into davey today.... he's a nice guy.... posed for a photo with the kids.... i really hope he can recapture some of his old form this year.... good luck Davey....

I hope he has a great year, he seems to have lifted and accepted the challenge at training so hope they play him and play him as a small forward, he has exceptional skills, let's not forget that. Not saying he'll play 22 games but if he can do 15 plus it would be great.

I will say I thought he was gone but maybe there's life in there after all.

I hope he has a great year, he seems to have lifted and accepted the challenge at training so hope they play him and play him as a small forward, he has exceptional skills, let's not forget that. Not saying he'll play 22 games but if he can do 15 plus it would be great.

I will say I thought he was gone but maybe there's life in there after all.

As well Robbief he is probably still the best kick in the team.

If only Bail and Mckenzie could kick as well

Well I can dream can't I

Aaron has put in some good years for the demons when so many others went missing, he has received a lot more attention from opposition teams in previous years and I never really saw any concerted effort by melbourne players to run interference or assist in blocking taggers to break him free. Davey's disposal was usually first class. If the team can play as a team and support each other by blocking and shepherding a bit more then Aaron will come into his own again and he will deliver quality ball to our forwards.

As well Robbief he is probably still the best kick in the team.

If only Bail and Mckenzie could kick as well

Well I can dream can't I

You sure can.

Unfortunately, a shadow of his former self....hasn't been any good for three years.

Is looking over his shoulder with the recruitment of Byrnes and the development of Barry.

Has now had 2 pre seasons under Misson. Davey had to build a better endurance base and he could have had no better fitness guy to assist him than Misson. He seems to have layed a good base pre Christmas and hopefully will continue his injury free pre season. For mine he will go into this season with greater confidence in his fitness and body than he has had for a few years. And there are even pics of him smiling again. Heres hoping for a late career renaissance.

Unfortunately, a shadow of his former self....hasn't been any good for three years.

Is looking over his shoulder with the recruitment of Byrnes and the development of Barry.

Watching him at training the other day he is loving having Barry there and he will be a real positive influence.

Aaron has put in some good years for the demons when so many others went missing, he has received a lot more attention from opposition teams in previous years and I never really saw any concerted effort by melbourne players to run interference or assist in blocking taggers to break him free. Davey's disposal was usually first class. If the team can play as a team and support each other by blocking and shepherding a bit more then Aaron will come into his own again and he will deliver quality ball to our forwards.

Amen. A lot forget how he was tagged to death and no one would run interference (either too lazy or not good enough) so Bailey stuck him as the distributor out of the back line where he excelled.

Then he had the injury crisis.

Now he is getting a fitness base.

He now has players around him now that will deal out punishment to anyone causing Aaron problems.

What I have a problem with is that when he has a good year this year, no one here will put up his hand and say I am sorry I was wrong.

And most of you forget his contributions to the bros.

Aaaahhh!! I think I am talking to the trees again.

Aaaahhh!! I think I am talking to the trees again.

The big question is - are they listening?

I never really saw any concerted effort by melbourne players to run interference or assist in blocking taggers to break him free.

I always thought this is one of the more unforgivable sins of a footy player and something I've hated about our team. The other bloke might be a better kick than you, but a VFL player can shepherd. One of the things that I hope is fixed about our new beut team is backing each other up. I was so rapt when Watts and Rivers did it on the boundary last season.

edit: have no clue how to spell bewt colloquially.