Aaron Davey Retires

[Redbeard 498]

Such a beautiful kick to watch, loved those flawless passes. Completely changed fans attitude when the opposition got possession in our fwd 50, went from sitting down disappointed to standing up with excitement knowing he was going to run someone down.

Hope he does stick around, there's a lot he can offer the young kids.

[RickyJ45 417]

thanks for the memories flash treat him with respect. hope misfud sends him a few slabs

[Demon Jack 7,141]

A must watch for any dees supporter.

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/video/2013-08-20/behind-the-scenes-aaron-davey-media-conference

Lot of emotion in his announcement.

Thanks a lot Flash. I'll never forget that freakish soccer goal I saw you kick at the G some years ago.

[Nasher 33,617]

I am proud to say along with WJ, we were there at the start, having seen him play at Port Melbourne and pushing on Demonland, for us to take him. We were thrilled when the club did and loved watching him play, especially when he was at his peak.

I'd like to put my hand up for that one, too. Saw him play against the Tassie Devils (when they existed in the VFL) at Bellerive (may have even been in a final?) and he was lightning, I'd never seen anything like it.

I was stoked to see it translate at AFL level. He changed the way small forwards play the game.

[EmineNce- 26]

Sad to see him fall from grace over a period of time.

When he was in form, he was lightning and devastating to the opposition.

I wish him all the best, and hope he remains at the dees :D

[deeflog 679]

Well done on a mostly very good career flash. I really hope you stay around the club in a mentor role

[Return to Glory 8,453]

Well done on a mostly very good career flash. I really hope you stay around the club in a mentor role

Faint praise there Deeflog. Let's hope those who give you your retirement speech don't kick off with 'sometimes he was productive, other times he was plain hopeless'

Edited August 20, 2013 by Return to Glory

[Bitter but optimistic 22,289]

Faint praise there Deeflog. Let's hope those who give you your retirement speech don't kick off with 'sometimes he was productive, other times he was plain hopeless'

Disagree RTG. [censored]'s comment was fair. Davey was both great and , at times, [censored] poor. It does not do to eulogise simply because someone is retiring.

[Return to Glory 8,453]

Can't we skip over the so so stuff Bitter?

[John Crow Batty 8,880]

Flash was one of my favourite players though I did flail at him in 2011 perhaps unjustly. WTFWGO then tore this club apart and he copped a lot. This season he tried hard but decline from chronic injury finally defeated him. Hope he sticks around. If we were a better run club he may have been a superstar.

Edited August 20, 2013 by america de cali

[spirit of norm smith 16,617]

Great to watch. Great at kids clinics... one of our families favourites

[Bitter but optimistic 22,289]

Can't we skip over the so so stuff Bitter?

I'll " skip to my Lou" for a fellow pedagogue RTG.

[monoccular 17,644]

His best was fantastic.

I will always remember a game at the G vs WCE, where he hovered outside our goal square when the WCE were kicking in. He ran down the kick in guy at least once when he played on, and they were just plain scared the rest of the game.

Very amusing to watch.

And I think it was his first game - preseason I think vs Geelong. An amazing running goal form half forward at the Soulless Spencer Street Stadium.

Great memories.

Thanks Aaron. Hope you chose to stick around as a mentor to the brothers, and others.

[monoccular 17,644]

Disagree RTG. [censored]'s comment was fair. Davey was both great and , at times, [censored] poor. It does not do to eulogise simply because someone is retiring.

I agree, Bbo - few things irk me more then especially pollies getting up in parliament saying what a great person some recently deceased dude was who they spent their life bagging and attacking.

The truth needs to be told - nobody (other than the current PM of course, ask him) is perfect.

Aaron was at times exciting and inspiring, and at times far from it. And that isn't being offensive, just speaking the truth.

Edited August 20, 2013 by monoccular

[Lord Travis 10,793]

He was brilliant at his peak, and he changed the game with his pressure back in in his early years. I'll be sad we have one less one-club senior player running around next year, and one who appears to love the club and help others out when he can.

Congratulations on a good career Aaron!

[chookrat 4,268]

"Melbourne is already in talks with the 30-year-old to remain at the club in a mentoring role for the young players.

"We want to keep him involved at the Melbourne football club. He has got a lot to offer the AFL and Melbourne football club going forward,'' football manager Josh Mahoney said."

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/melbourne-star-aaron-davey-announces-his-retirement-from-afl/story-fndv8pdq-1226700563164

I dont think as a club we handled this one wrong.

Great to see this. Aaron Davey has been a great stalwart of our club and it will be great to see his continued involvement.

[DemonFrog 1,359]

Thanks for all the goods times,

All the best with your future.

[Hannibal 5,814]

Agree with others.

It's not often you can leave AFL footy and lay legitimate claims to pioneering a new role. Like Barassi created the ruck-rover role, Davey became the defensive forward that spooked small backs.

First time I saw him play was in a preseason practice match against either North or West Coast, may have been the latter, and I was immediately excited that we'd "found" one - albeit he'd been great at Port Melbourne.

You're a Melbourne person forever now.

[Pennant St Dee 13,403]

Thanks on a great career Flash with many highlights and memories left with us Demons forever.

I still smile at the thought of how you burst onto the scene in 2004, when you made the footy world take notice and left defenders in panic knowing you were lurking in our forward 50 ready to pounce at any moment.

Enjoy your well earned retirement and may you maintain a role within the game

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

Did they acknowledge Davey on AFL 360?

[P-man 13,366]

Did they acknowledge Davey on AFL 360?

They did. Showed his presser and reflected on his career. Robbo acknowledged the impact he had on the small forward position in taking defensive pressure to a new level. Luke Ball described him at his peak as "Rioli-like" and paid credit to what a nice bloke he was. Bob Murphy said that when you saw him with the ball, you instantly were thinking about damage control, also drawing the Cyril comparison.

[btdemon 482]

The highlight package missed a couple of magic moments. The goal that helped sink Freo in that great comeback. What a player at his peak! Sad to see him go. He copped a lot of carp from this website too.

[baysidedave 246]

Let's hope we handled this one ok...

It's disappointing this was my initial reaction.

I have had a good time watching him play and I wish him all the best. He might want to move into coaching, I guess we will see.

Seems it is all okay, Aaron great Demon player, hope he stays at club....my daughter will be shattered

[Bobby McKenzie 2,401]

mfc just tweeted:

peter ryan ‏@AFL_petryan4m

.@melbournefc Aaron Davey to announce his retirement after 176 games today

Demons stalwart Davey to hang up the boots

Well done on a magnificent career Aaron. You were a class act both on and off the field. I remember in your first few seasons comparing you with my namesake. You had his dash, goal kicking ability, skills and possessed his mercurial qualities. Your chases and tackles left many opponents petrified. One of the few highlights against the Dockers on Sunday was your role in the very successful piece of play where you pinpointed a teammate with a beautiful kick took a handpass and then produced a perfect pass to Jack Fitzpatrick who goaled. Your retirement speech was all class and we hope you remain at the club in a mentoring role. All the very best for your future life mate. Thanks for the memories.

[thevil1 421]

I miss him already, was a great player, a great clubman and a top bloke, sad that injuries got to him but hope that he is kept involved at the club in some capacity. Good luck Aaron!!