Craig Davis (Australian rules footballer)
Encyclopedia
Craig Davis is a former Australian rules footballer who played with four clubs during his eleven seasons in the VFL
in the 1970s and early 1980s. He played as a fullforward and is the father of Nick Davis
who is a premiership player with Sydney
, and a cousin of Brent Crosswell
.
Davis was recruited to the VFL from Launceston and made his debut for Carlton
in 1973 at the age of 18. He had played as a wingman and half forward in the reserves team but in just his sixth game for Carlton began his career at fullforward. After kicking 72 goals in three seasons he received a head injury during the 1976 pre season. As a result he didn't play a senior game all season and was delisted at the end of the year.
Despite being warned by the Carlton doctors over the danger of another head injury he joined North Melbourne
for the 1977 season. He remained with the club until the end of 1978 but after managing only a total of 10 games he moved again, this time to Collingwood
. He kicked 88 goals in his debut season at Collingwood, topping the club's goalkicking charts for the year and falling 3 goals short of the Coleman Medal
which was won by Kelvin Templeton
. For the next two seasons he again finished with over 50 goals and by the time he left the club in 1983 he had kicked a total of 251 goals.
In 1988 at the age of 33 he made a surprise comeback to football, playing a season in Sydney with the Swans
.
Following his playing career, Craig Davis has remained active in football as an administrator with the NSW AFL.
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
in the 1970s and early 1980s. He played as a fullforward and is the father of Nick Davis
Nick Davis (footballer)
Nick Davis is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Collingwood Football Club and the Sydney Swans in the AFL.- Collingwood:...
who is a premiership player with Sydney
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
, and a cousin of Brent Crosswell
Brent Crosswell
Brent Tasman Crosswell is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton, Melbourne and North Melbourne in a 222 game Victorian Football League career...
.
Davis was recruited to the VFL from Launceston and made his debut for Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
in 1973 at the age of 18. He had played as a wingman and half forward in the reserves team but in just his sixth game for Carlton began his career at fullforward. After kicking 72 goals in three seasons he received a head injury during the 1976 pre season. As a result he didn't play a senior game all season and was delisted at the end of the year.
Despite being warned by the Carlton doctors over the danger of another head injury he joined North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
for the 1977 season. He remained with the club until the end of 1978 but after managing only a total of 10 games he moved again, this time to Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. He kicked 88 goals in his debut season at Collingwood, topping the club's goalkicking charts for the year and falling 3 goals short of the Coleman Medal
Coleman Medal
The Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year...
which was won by Kelvin Templeton
Kelvin Templeton
Kelvin Templeton is a former Australian rules footballer. At sixteen years of age Templeton kicked 100 goals for Traralgon in the 1973 Latrobe Valley FL season...
. For the next two seasons he again finished with over 50 goals and by the time he left the club in 1983 he had kicked a total of 251 goals.
In 1988 at the age of 33 he made a surprise comeback to football, playing a season in Sydney with the Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
.
Following his playing career, Craig Davis has remained active in football as an administrator with the NSW AFL.