Craig Davis

Career : 1973 - 1975
Debut : Round 14, 1973 vs Hawthorn, aged 18 years, 278 days
Carlton Player No. 840
Games : 163 (42 at Carlton)
Goals : 363 (72 at Carlton)
Last Game : Semi Final, 1975 vs Richmond, aged 20 years, 346 days
Guernsey No. 23
Height : 183 cm ( 6 ft. 0 in.)
Weight : 76 kg (12 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB : October 2, 1954
Leading Goalkicker: 1974

Beginning his fine VFL career at Carlton, Craig Davis (cousin of Carlton legend Brent Crosswell) went on to play at three other clubs. A slightly built, yet skilful and strong-marking full-forward, he was on the losing side in finals with Carlton, North Melbourne and Collingwood before making a return to senior football with Sydney at the ripe old age of 33.

Davis grew up in Ross, Tasmania and came to Princes Park from the Launceston club in 1972 as a promising 18 year-old wingman or half-forward, scaling 183 cm and 76 kg. Wearing guernsey number 23, he impressed with the Reserves team the following year, and made his senior debut late in the season. His third senior game was the 1973 Qualifying Final against Richmond, and his opponent in Carlton’s forward pocket that day was the Tigers’ hard man (and future Essendon coaching legend) Kevin Sheedy.

By his own admission, Davis hardly touched the ball in the first half of that match, before some direct words from Carlton captain John Nicholls turned things around. “Nick told me to use my pace,” said Davis; “to get out on the lead and just keep running.” It was good advice. Davis kicked three telling goals in the second half and the Blues won by 20 points. We then went on to beat Collingwood in the preliminary final, setting up a rematch with Richmond on Grand Final day.

Playing just his sixth senior game in that ’73 decider, and named at full-forward, Davis ran out onto the MCG in front almost 117,000 fans – only to be bitterly disappointed. Richmond had been comprehensively beaten by Carlton in both their previous finals’ matches, but this time were primed for revenge. Their fanatical attack on the ball and the man proved too much for Carlton, and the Blues went down by five goals.

Two years later, Davis suffered a horrendous head injury in a pre-season practice match, when an opponents knee collected him in a marking contest. Fearing further complications, Carlton’s doctors insisted that his career was over, and the club delisted him after the 1976 season. He had played 42 games in Navy Blue, and kicked 75 goals.

Believing that the medicos were wrong, and that he still had plenty to offer, Davis joined North Melbourne in 1977 and played 10 games for 20 goals in two seasons. Then in 1979 he crossed to Collingwood, where his career was re-ignited. He went on to play a further 102 games for the Magpies (including the 1979 Grand Final loss to Carlton) in five years. During that ’79 final series, Davis had one particularly off day in a Qualifying Final against North Melbourne.

“My kicking that day was atrocious,” he said later. “I kicked seven behinds straight. If I had kicked straight, I might have won that year’s VFL Goalkicking award, because Footscray’s Kelvin Templeton finished the season with 91, and I kicked 87.” In all, Davis booted 251 goals for Collingwood between 1979 and 1983.

Five years after his last game at Victoria Park, Davis caused a minor sensation when he agreed to pull the boots on one more time, in the red and white of the Sydney Swans. At that time the Swans’ young list badly needed experience and direction. Davis provided both in his nine games in 1988, when his 17 goals were a valuable contribution. His final overall career tally was 163 games and 363 goals.

After finally calling it a day as a player, Davis became heavily involved with the administration and promotion of Australian Football in NSW. His son Nick Davis began his fine career at Collingwood, then was a key member of Sydney’s 2005 AFL Premiership team.

Career Highlights

1973 - 2nd Reserves Best & Fairest
1973 - Reserves Best First Year Player Award

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Links

Articles: The Fish That Got Away

Blueseum: Summary of playing statistics for Craig Davis

Gallery

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  1974 - Craig Davis (Scanlen's Footy Card).
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  1975 - Craig Davis (Scanlen's Footy Card).
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  1975 Rd 22 - Craig Davis.Craig Davis leaves the footy behind as he soars over his Footscray opponent in the final H&A match of 1975.
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  1973 Practice Match - Craig Davis screamer.Craig Davis takes a screamer over Fitzroy's Chris Smith in a pre-season practice match at the Junction Oval in 1973. This was Craig's first ever match for the Blues after having been recruited from NTFA (Tas) club Launceston.
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  1977 - Craig Davis to play on is a risk? (31/03/77).
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  1977 - Craig Davis to go to the Roos (09/06/77).
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  1974 Rd 18 - Craig Davis takes a speccie.
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  1977 - Craig Davis can play again (28/07/77).
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  1975 Rd 14 - Craig Davis takes a hanger.
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  1973 GF - Craig Davis.
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  1976 - Craig Davis.
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  1975 Rd 17 - Craig Davis flies for a big grab.Pic: Football Life.
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  1973 - Craig Davis; Brent Crosswell's cousin!! (22/09/73).Inside Football.
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  1973 2nd Semi - Craig Davis flies for a hanger.Pic: Inside Football.
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  Craig Davis Interview (02/05/01).
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  1973 GF - Davis fights for the ball with Dickson in support.
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  1973 GF - Nicholls knocks the ball towards Catoggio & Davis.
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  1973 GF - Craig Davis takes a strong mark.
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  1973 - Craig Davis.
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  1975 - Craig Davis.
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  1987 - Craig Davis.
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  1988 - Craig Davis article.
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  1974 Rd 15 - Davis in the ruck against Balme as Hurst waits.
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  1973 - Craig Davis.
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  1973 GF - Craig Davis.
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  1975 Rd 17 - Craig Davis flies for a mark.
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  1976 - Craig Davis.
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  1975 Rd 15 - Craig Davis flies for a mark in front of David Dench.
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  1975 Rd 14 – Craig Davis sporting a black eye from a clash with the Bombers.
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  1973 Qual. Final - Craig Davis celebrates win.