Melbourne's Aaron Davey opens up and describes how he fell back in love with football

A good read. Bit of a change of pace from all the Sylvia, Frawley, Watts drama from the past couple of days.

Stay positive, friends

Certainly looks like the fittest he's ever been.

Hopefully he plays on for another two years.

and produces a few more boys for our future.

Certainly looks like the fittest he's ever been.

Hopefully he plays on for another two years.

and produces a few more boys for our future.

You mean we have one Biffen?

Say what you like about Davey but when his playing days are over he'll be remembered as the pioneer of forward pressure and a great of the club

I noticed he had a significant limp before last weeks game - think I read something about him having a limp on here and shrugged it off butt what kind of injury would cause such an obvious limp?

Maybe if he can sort that out he will gain a yard of pace - he looked like a very slow Davey

I like Davey.

Whenever he comes on as a sub he provides some fire, passion and leadership.

I know its a lot of talk, but I'd like to see him get his fitness back up to be able to play a full game/be a feature.

Maybe this is what Watts needs. He has experience up forward, down back and on the wing so is more versatile as a sub than Davey.

Might take some pressure off Watts and get him to enjoy his footy.

I liked how Neeld had him over for dinner.

That, along with recent comments by Col Garland makes me think he finally trying to balance the school principal style of managing players he went in with last year.

Must be the last year of his contract.

Must be the last year of his contract.

Why?

You have players who aren't contrubuting any effort, leadership or experience and want to leave the club, but you want to get rid of one of the only players who contributes this and wants to be here?

His fitness isn't the best, but clearly showing improvement... which can't be said for some of our list.

Why?

You have players who aren't contrubuting any effort, leadership or experience and want to leave the club, but you want to get rid of one of the only players who contributes this and wants to be here?

His fitness isn't the best, but clearly showing improvement... which can't be said for some of our list.

PJ, it could be argued that part of the reason that Davey wants to be there is because he knows the chances of him getting a contract elsewhere would be next to zero.

Aaron has had a horrific run with injury in the last few years, with pace being a key component of his game I was really worried he'd fade away into oblivion. I was so happy to see him back to his old self vs Richmond (although he got lucky with the rolling the ball along the ground miss/goal).

It was strange and refreshing to see someone in red and blue be able to size up a situation and pinpoint a pass perfectly, I really hope he can continue with it. Perhaps he'll go another year, if his form continues then why not?

PJ, it could be argued that part of the reason that Davey wants to be there is because he knows the chances of him getting a contract elsewhere would be next to zero.

It could also be that Davey has bought into Neeld's approach to the players... as I recall, he was showing signs of improvement last year and has kept going on the upward trend this year. I suppose it might boil down to whether a player can handle discipline.

Must be the last year of his contract.

Agree. The most disturbing aspect is that he is our most dangerous small forward but he is unable to meet the demands on the defensive side of his game.

His failure to chase Vlastuin at the MCG was really poor.

I would wait until year end before considering another contract to him. And if so, it's one year and a far lower contract rate.

You mean we have one Biffen?

.....click,,,,hhiiisssss....click......hhhssss....click....hhhsssss

Agree. The most disturbing aspect is that he is our most dangerous small forward but he is unable to meet the demands on the defensive side of his game.

His failure to chase Vlastuin at the MCG was really poor.

I would wait until year end before considering another contract to him. And if so, it's one year and a far lower contract rate.

Make sure you let Tim Harrington know, you did watch the reply and was sure Davey was the man at that time on Vlastuin or you just repeating what the journo said, like to make sure

Make sure you let Tim Harrington know, you did watch the reply and was sure Davey was the man at that time on Vlastuin or you just repeating what the journo said, like to make sure

I saw it live and on replay and their is zero ambiguity

Clear as day Davey was with Vlastuin at Melbourne's CHF, both players began following the ball along the wing as Richmond moved the ball forward. As play unfolded they were what I'd class as a quick jog towards Richmond's goal and Vlastuin turned what was a 3m gap between them into a 10m gap, the ball was kicked to Vickery at CHF, Vlastuin saw an opportunity and began sprinting, got the handball receive and slotted the goal on the run. Davey quickened but couldn't catch him and trailed in behind.

It was a blight on a game of a senior player who was with his opponent but through poor mental and physical effort let him get goal side and kick a goal. Now back in 2004 when footy was different Davey was great defensively because players played in positions and Davey would stalk and catch slow moving defenders/mids coming from the back half. Now footy requires constant focus and repeat efforts and Davey fails to give them over the course of a game.

Now I really like Davey. He was a hard working dangerous small forward who then took his game to a new level peaking in 2009 with a brilliant season using his foot skills to help pick apart zones and create plenty of goals. But the injuries caught up with him and he has the rest of this year to show he can really be a solid contributer and get an extra year. I'm not at all against keeping our senior players but they have to play like senior players and train like senior players. Otherwise they are useless.

I saw it live and on replay and their is zero ambiguity

Clear as day Davey was with Vlastuin at Melbourne's CHF, both players began following the ball along the wing as Richmond moved the ball forward. As play unfolded they were what I'd class as a quick jog towards Richmond's goal and Vlastuin turned what was a 3m gap between them into a 10m gap, the ball was kicked to Vickery at CHF, Vlastuin saw an opportunity and began sprinting, got the handball receive and slotted the goal on the run. Davey quickened but couldn't catch him and trailed in behind.

It was a blight on a game of a senior player who was with his opponent but through poor mental and physical effort let him get goal side and kick a goal. Now back in 2004 when footy was different Davey was great defensively because players played in positions and Davey would stalk and catch slow moving defenders/mids coming from the back half. Now footy requires constant focus and repeat efforts and Davey fails to give them over the course of a game.

Now I really like Davey. He was a hard working dangerous small forward who then took his game to a new level peaking in 2009 with a brilliant season using his foot skills to help pick apart zones and create plenty of goals. But the injuries caught up with him and he has the rest of this year to show he can really be a solid contributer and get an extra year. I'm not at all against keeping our senior players but they have to play like senior players and train like senior players. Otherwise they are useless.

So 1 error in 4 qtrs of good footy by him, and outrun by somebody 12 years his junior, unforgiveable, can see where you were going with this, but hey it was a good news story about a guy who has battled for the last couple of years, but pulled his head in and got on with it, I can lilve with the 1 error....I'm sure he won't do it this week

I forgot all about the different injuries he had. He showed some old form last week. His accurate kicking and him kicking goals again.

He should go around to Neelds house every week. I remember reading how he has players over. At least they get to see the family side to Neeld instead of just a coach.

If Aaron Davey can finish his career like he deserves, I think it could go a long way to mending the rift in the club's psyche caused by James McDonald's early departure. Of all the things we've gotten wrong over the past six years, that stands out to me as the biggest "what if" of the lot.

So 1 error in 4 qtrs of good footy by him, and outrun by somebody 12 years his junior, unforgiveable, can see where you were going with this, but hey it was a good news story about a guy who has battled for the last couple of years, but pulled his head in and got on with it, I can lilve with the 1 error....I'm sure he won't do it this week

What's with the 12 years your junior thing about. He's 30 and had 12 preseasons Vlastuin hasn't had one full one yet. He wasn't out run he was out worked. Which is the reason we got Neeld in.

The first step of being the hardest team to play against in the comp is to man up on a direct opponent. We (as supporters) shouldn't tolerate players not doing this. Now it was an isolated incident but it shows how far the team has to go.

What's with the 12 years your junior thing about. He's 30 and had 12 preseasons Vlastuin hasn't had one full one yet. He wasn't out run he was out worked. Which is the reason we got Neeld in.

The first step of being the hardest team to play against in the comp is to man up on a direct opponent. We (as supporters) shouldn't tolerate players not doing this. Now it was an isolated incident but it shows how far the team has to go.

The fact is that Richmond already had possession of the ball and were clear all along the wing. Davey could have probably made the kick into the Richmond forward line a 50/50 contest if he worked harder, but we shouldn't let that one tired (or lazy) display take the shine off what was probably the best performance by a Melbourne player this year.

I noticed he had a significant limp before last weeks game - think I read something about him having a limp on here and shrugged it off butt what kind of injury would cause such an obvious limp?

Maybe if he can sort that out he will gain a yard of pace - he looked like a very slow Davey

At least he doesn't miss a game because of a very obviously slight "calf" He may have looked like a very slow Davey, but nevertheless a Davey who was among our better players...

The fact is that Richmond already had possession of the ball and were clear all along the wing. Davey could have probably made the kick into the Richmond forward line a 50/50 contest if he worked harder, but we shouldn't let that one tired (or lazy) display take the shine off what was probably the best performance by a Melbourne player this year.

19 touches, 3 goals (one stolen from Dawes, one he was lucky to get a second shot at), a couple of very nice goal assists. He played very well. But I don't see the fuss. The way I see it you can't really coach talent, you can foster it and develop it but that's about it. Davey showed his talent. But you can set standards and letting Vlastuin go was a huge no no. It's upset me greatly which is why I'm still going on about it.

Because there was a moment in the game where Tapscott did it with Morris. Blease does it whenever he plays. And its correcting these simple things added in with some desire to win the ball they can very quickly take us from a debacle of a side to one that at least stays in games long enough to inspire some faith and get supporters through the door.

19 touches, 3 goals (one stolen from Dawes, one he was lucky to get a second shot at), a couple of very nice goal assists. He played very well. But I don't see the fuss. The way I see it you can't really coach talent, you can foster it and develop it but that's about it. Davey showed his talent. But you can set standards and letting Vlastuin go was a huge no no. It's upset me greatly which is why I'm still going on about it.

You won't find me disagreeing with you that Davey should have attempted the chase, but to deny him credit for such a great game is a pity.

He was involved in 5 of our 11 goals, as well as 2 that should have been goals (the Jetta mishap and Dawes' miss from directly in front). Not to mention he provided the physical pressure he should have provided many other times during the game. He contributed to a number of Richmond turnovers, and generally made sure that when he was given the ball, a Melbourne player ended up with it when he was done.

I still think it was the best individual performance of the year. If you don't agree, then perhaps you'd like to come up with some other candidates?

It was Daveys best game in at least two years.

The pity is he tired badly in the 2nd half and his lack of chase that was noted was lazy. A game of pluses and minuses.

It says enough where he is at currently.