Aaron Davey's last home game?

[Deespicable 2,886]

It's not official yet, but the club will be holding talks with Aaron Davey this week to decide what sort of send-off to give him.

Davey, in his 10th season, has been one of the most popular players in history since arriving at the club via the rookie draft in 2004.

Anyone who saw his first season under Neale Daniher will know how he took the chasing game to a new level pioneering the breakneck speed and classy ball movement that small forwards like Cyril Rioli have copied.

He wasn't as robust as The Whiz, but The Flash, as Daniher called him, lifted spirits with his ability to bring down unsuspecting defenders and use the ensuing turnover to great effect. He would have won the AFL Rising Star had Jared Rivers not had a huge first AFL season as well. He was stiff however as he finished third in Melbourne's best and fairest that season, ahead of Rivers.

In 2009 Dean Bailey moved him into the midfield to provide more run and he ended up with the Bluey Truscott Medal.

In 2010 he was pushed more into defence and in 2011 injury and a loss of confidence contributed towards him being maligned a bit in the media.

It's been a tough run for him since and his lack of muscle in today's heavy-tackling game doesn't suit his style and has meant he has spent many games as sub in the past two seasons.

But it was nice to see an article earlier in the year that talked about how he'd been invited to dinner at Mark Neeld's place. It corresponded with a purple patch of form mid-season where his silky skills were again evident.

The 30-year-old has now played 174 games and will go down as one of the club greats.

Will history rate him higher than Jeff Farmer as the club's best small forward since 1970? Adem Yze also has strong claims to that spot as well. Let us know what you think and don't forget to cheer him on at the MCG against Fremantle this Sunday.

I'm tipping he won't be the sub this week.

Edited August 12, 2013 by Demonland
Title change

[Earl Hood 6,101]

It's not official yet, but the club will be holding talks with Aaron Davey this week to decide what sort of send-off to give him.

Davey, in his 10th season, has been one of the most popular players in history since arriving at the club via the rookie draft in 2004.

Anyone who saw his first season under Neale Daniher will know how he took the chasing game to a new level pioneering the breakneck speed and classy ball movement that small forwards like Cyril Rioli have copied.

He wasn't as robust as The Whiz, but The Flash, as Daniher called him, lifted spirits with his ability to bring down unsuspecting defenders and use the ensuing turnover to great effect. He would have won the AFL Rising Star had Jared Rivers not had a huge first AFL season as well. He was stiff however as he finished third in Melbourne's best and fairest that season, ahead of Rivers.

In 2009 Dean Bailey moved him into the midfield to provide more run and he ended up with the Bluey Truscott Medal.

In 2010 he was pushed more into defence and in 2011 injury and a loss of confidence contributed towards him being maligned a bit in the media.

It's been a tough run for him since and his lack of muscle in today's heavy-tackling game doesn't suit his style and has meant he has spent many games as sub in the past two seasons.

But it was nice to see an article earlier in the year that talked about how he'd been invited to dinner at Mark Neeld's place. It corresponded with a purple patch of form mid-season where his silky skills were again evident.

The 30-year-old has now played 174 games and will go down as one of the club greats.

Will history rate him higher than Jeff Farmer as the club's best small forward since 1970? Adem Yze also has strong claims to that spot as well. Let us know what you think and don't forget to cheer him on at the MCG against Fremantle this Sunday.

I'm tipping he won't be the sub this week.

Flash was good, created the small defensive forward blueprint that every team now wants to have. But I think Yze and The Whiz are just ahead. Farmer was a freak, if indisciplined at times

[13thFlagIsComing 542]

If you had to sum up Farmer, Yze and Davey i believe it would be like this:

Farmer has been our most damaging and exciting small forward for the past 30 years.

Yze was our classiest and reliable small forward for the past 30 years

Davey was our fastest small forward and first real game changer in the past 30 years

Edited August 12, 2013 by 13thFlagIsComing

[stuie 7,374]

It's not official yet, but the club will be holding talks with Aaron Davey this week to decide what sort of send-off to give him.

I know you moved on quickly after saying this, but do you have a source or are you guessing?

[dazzledavey36 55,361]

Why the hell would they move him on if there is no coach!? Smells like crockshit.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Why the hell would they move him on if there is no coach!? Smells like crockshit.

They will once the new coach is appointed.

He was finished 2 years ago.

And did little this year to suggest he is AFL standard.

[rjay 25,093]

I know you moved on quickly after saying this, but do you have a source or are you guessing?

Looks to be a guess 'stuie', it may well be right but not good form.

[Yossarian 1,820]

He's said he wants to play on so if it's his last game then it's the club that's letting him go.

Will wait for an official source on this one.

Also, 'rjay' do you really need the quotation marks every time you use someone's username?

Edited August 12, 2013 by Yossarian

[Little Richard 6,265]

They will once the new coach is appointed.

He was finished 2 years ago.

And did little this year to suggest he is AFL standard.

And last year... and the year before that. Davey hasn't done much since 2009 though he has been a great player for the club and it's been a pleasure watching him.

Interestingly, this year Aaron has kicked 15 goals - the last time he kicked more was 2007 (24).

[rhaz 342]

Thought he was sub too often this year. Could've done more with an extended change. Hard to impress when the game was already lost.

[Pates 9,660]

The club has had terrible form in recent times with pushing veterans out the door. If he's finishing up I would've thought it's because he sees the writing on the wall. If he wants to go on then he should be given the right to plead his case to the incoming coach. I actually think he's done ok playing regularly as the sub, he set up Byrnes opportunity to get us into the game early in the last and then scored the goal to give us a flicker.

Edited August 12, 2013 by Pates

[deanox 9,989]

Given our dearth of senior players, role models and leaders, I'd be happy for Aaron to stay on the list next year in that capacity of he shows that leadership and mentorship off field.

It will be good to maintain some level of "Melbourne" in or mentor players rather than bringing in recycled players just for that purpose. (Although maybe given our cultural history There is a benefit in bringing recycled players in).

[Wilbur 447]

Give him a job as a specalist kicking coach. His field kicking has been brilliant over his entire career. something a lot of our current list need a lot of work on.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,602]

He might be staying.

[rjay 25,093]

He's said he wants to play on so if it's his last game then it's the club that's letting him go.

Will wait for an official source on this one.

Also, 'rjay' do you really need the quotation marks every time you use someone's username?

Yep 'Yossarian', it's kind of a catch 22.

[Demonland 73,163]

Title changed to provide the respect a 10 year player at this club deserves.

[olisik 4,060]

Keep him. If we lose him we ll have people harping on about our clubd lack of respect for senior players.

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

Not convinced it will be his last year, but i have always really admired Flash, really was the heart of the MFC for a while there.

[jackaub 1,402]

He may have been the heart of the MFC but Yes a long time ago now unfortunately

I wont miss him as he hasn't been able or wanting to perform for some time and it shows

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Given our dearth of senior players, role models and leaders, I'd be happy for Aaron to stay on the list next year in that capacity of he shows that leadership and mentorship off field.

It will be good to maintain some level of "Melbourne" in or mentor players rather than bringing in recycled players just for that purpose. (Although maybe given our cultural history There is a benefit in bringing recycled players in).

Totally agree. I also think he's showed quite a bit this year on the field as well. He's kicked some really good goals this year.

Deserves another year IMO - for several reasons.

[Guest]

I say he should go but the club needs to be respectful. This should be Aaron's decision. He isn't stupid and won't play for the sake of it.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Given our dearth of senior players, role models and leaders, I'd be happy for Aaron to stay on the list next year in that capacity of he shows that leadership and mentorship off field.

It will be good to maintain some level of "Melbourne" in or mentor players rather than bringing in recycled players just for that purpose. (Although maybe given our cultural history There is a benefit in bringing recycled players in).

I would have thought leadership and quite often role modelling are two things Davey is weak in.

I am not sure he is necessarily the "Melbourne" I think we should retain.

But there is no doubt whatsoever that he should be exited gracefully and respectfully at year end. It's certainly something the previous administration did poorly.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

I say he should go but the club needs to be respectful. This should be Aaron's decision. He isn't stupid and won't play for the sake of it.

It's definitely not Aaron's ( or a players) decision. It's the clubs and they should communicate and implement the decision professionally and respectfully.

[beelzebub 23,383]

The simple reality is that the "consistent best" that Davey is now able to provide in all honesty falls below the bar of where you want a team to be.

Davey's been a fine player ( in the main ) over his journey at Melbourne but take the rose coloured glasses off and its blindingly obvious it ought to close if not on a high at least a respectful plateau. He wont be any better next year.

I concur with those that suggest he ought to be retained in some capacity to show some of these numnuts how to kick !!

Its not often you can describe a player as a game changer but he is indeed one. As noted by others who will forget that early game against Richmond.

As Neil Young once penned.......there comes a time.

[hardtack 10,627]

Totally agree. I also think he's showed quite a bit this year on the field as well. He's kicked some really good goals this year.

Deserves another year IMO - for several reasons.

I would hope that the club (appropriate person) sits down with Aaron and they discuss his future with a view to having him onboard for one more season where he will take on more of a mentoring/development role. Perhaps this discussion may have already taken place 12 months ago? I would hate to see him summarily dumped after the years of quality service he gave us, regardless of his form and desire seemingly dropping off as his body finds it harder to cope with the rigours of today's game.