Rick Davies (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Rick Davies is a former Australian rules football
er who played with Sturt and South Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL) and in the Victorian Football League
(VFL). Known as the Jumbo Prince for his size, strength and great football play, Davies played a total of 390 league games, 317 for Sturt, 33 for South Adelaide, 20 for Hawthorn, and 20 games
for South Australia. Though not tall for a ruckman at only 191cm or 6'3 on the old language, Davies had a tremendous leap as well as great strength which he used to out-body his opponents at ball-ups around the ground. He was also a brilliant high mark, a strong fast leader and accurate kick for goal.
against Glenelg
at the Adelaide Oval
, as the nucleus of that era retired in the following few years he became the lynchpin of the team. Davies went on to win a club record seven Best and Fairest awards, all within the space of eight years (1973-76, 1978-80), and in the 1976 Grand Final against Port Adelaide
his dominance was such that his performance is regarded as probably the best ever in a SANFL grand final.
In 1981 Davies joined Hawthorn in the VFL, changes to the rules for rucking contests disadvantaged shorter ruckman, as Davies was, resulted in him being played mostly in the forward pocket
where he kicked 37 goals. He returned to Sturt the in 1982 and topped their goal kicking in three successive seasons from 1982 until 1984. His best tally came in 1983 when he kicked a then SANFL record 151 goals, including eleven in a brilliant 114-point win over Port Adelaide and a club record fifteen in a grand final preview against West Adelaide
. Unfortunately for Davies and Sturt, Westies reversed the result in the Grand Final and the Double Blues had lost their chance at their first premiership since 1976 as 1984 was a disappointing season for the team who finished 7th and missed the finals. Ironically, West Adelaide themselves only finished 6th in 1984.
The 1985 season saw him leave Sturt for the second time and cross to South Adelaide, initially as a player but later as playing coach after former Hawthorn teammate Don Scott
was sacked. Interestingly while Davies was the on-field coach of the Panthers John Schneebichler was the captain, an arrangement that continued in 1986. The Panthers finished a disappointing 8th in 1985 and fell to 9th in 1986. In both seasons Davies, playing full forward, was the Panthers leading goal kicker with 72 goals each time. Davies played two seasons at that club before retiring at the end of the 1986 season having played a total of 350 SANFL league games and kicking 781 goals over 16 seasons.
for South Australia from 1973 until 1980, playing 20 games for the Croweaters and captained the State in 1979 and 1980. In 1980 Davies status as one of the pre-eminent Australian Rules players was confirmed when he was named as captain of the All Australian team ahead of stars of the calibre of Peter Carey, Robert Flower
and Brian Peake
.
(who had led the club to 5th in 1988) was controversially sacked as a result of a long committee in-fight. Under Davies coaching, Sturt finished last for the first of a SANFL-record eight consecutive years. Despite being told with five weeks of the season still to play that his contract was not under review, when Sturt were thrashed by Glenelg
by 132 points in their last match of the 1989 season, Davies resigned immediately.
(Davies record was broken in 1990 by Port's Scott Hodges
who kicked 153). He was one of 113 inaugural inductees into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 2002 while his 350 SANFL games for Sturt and South Adelaide has made him an SANFL Player Life Member
Such was the impact that Rick Davies had in his days with the Double Blues that he was an automatic choice in Sturts "Team of the Century" as both 1st Ruck
and as a forward.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with Sturt and South Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL) and in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL). Known as the Jumbo Prince for his size, strength and great football play, Davies played a total of 390 league games, 317 for Sturt, 33 for South Adelaide, 20 for Hawthorn, and 20 games
Interstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
for South Australia. Though not tall for a ruckman at only 191cm or 6'3 on the old language, Davies had a tremendous leap as well as great strength which he used to out-body his opponents at ball-ups around the ground. He was also a brilliant high mark, a strong fast leader and accurate kick for goal.
Playing Career
Rick Davies' senior career began with Sturt in 1970 at age 18. Though he did not play in the last of Sturt's five consecutive premierships under Jack OateyJack Oatey
Jack Oatey, AM was a former Australian rules football player and coach.-Playing career:Oatey played 181 games for the Norwood Football Club between 1940 and 1952 and acted as playing-coach from 1945 to 1952....
against Glenelg
Glenelg Tigers
Glenelg Football Club is an Australian rules football team, which plays in the South Australian National Football League. The club is known as the "Tigers" , and their home ground is Gliderol Stadium @ Glenelg , located in the southern coastal suburb of Glenelg East, South Australia.-Club...
at the Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval
The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
, as the nucleus of that era retired in the following few years he became the lynchpin of the team. Davies went on to win a club record seven Best and Fairest awards, all within the space of eight years (1973-76, 1978-80), and in the 1976 Grand Final against Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Magpies
The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
his dominance was such that his performance is regarded as probably the best ever in a SANFL grand final.
In 1981 Davies joined Hawthorn in the VFL, changes to the rules for rucking contests disadvantaged shorter ruckman, as Davies was, resulted in him being played mostly in the forward pocket
Forward pocket
In Australian rules football, the forward pocket refers to a position on the field deep in offense.Forward pocket players, situated in the forward line, need to have good avoidance and goal sneak skills and usually, quality forward-pockets are noted for their agility and ability to score difficult...
where he kicked 37 goals. He returned to Sturt the in 1982 and topped their goal kicking in three successive seasons from 1982 until 1984. His best tally came in 1983 when he kicked a then SANFL record 151 goals, including eleven in a brilliant 114-point win over Port Adelaide and a club record fifteen in a grand final preview against West Adelaide
West Adelaide Football Club
West Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League . Commonly known as The Bloods and Westies, the clubs home base is City Mazda Stadium located in Richmond, an inner-western suburb of Adelaide.-Early Years :West Adelaide was formed in...
. Unfortunately for Davies and Sturt, Westies reversed the result in the Grand Final and the Double Blues had lost their chance at their first premiership since 1976 as 1984 was a disappointing season for the team who finished 7th and missed the finals. Ironically, West Adelaide themselves only finished 6th in 1984.
The 1985 season saw him leave Sturt for the second time and cross to South Adelaide, initially as a player but later as playing coach after former Hawthorn teammate Don Scott
Don Scott (footballer)
Don Scott is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League. Scott was a fearless ruckman and premiership captain for Hawthorn Football Club....
was sacked. Interestingly while Davies was the on-field coach of the Panthers John Schneebichler was the captain, an arrangement that continued in 1986. The Panthers finished a disappointing 8th in 1985 and fell to 9th in 1986. In both seasons Davies, playing full forward, was the Panthers leading goal kicker with 72 goals each time. Davies played two seasons at that club before retiring at the end of the 1986 season having played a total of 350 SANFL league games and kicking 781 goals over 16 seasons.
Representative Career
Rick Davies was a regular interstate representativeInterstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
for South Australia from 1973 until 1980, playing 20 games for the Croweaters and captained the State in 1979 and 1980. In 1980 Davies status as one of the pre-eminent Australian Rules players was confirmed when he was named as captain of the All Australian team ahead of stars of the calibre of Peter Carey, Robert Flower
Robert Flower
Robert Flower is a former Australian rules footballer with Melbourne Football Club. His first game was against Geelong in 1973 and he captained the team from 1981 until his final game in 1987...
and Brian Peake
Brian Peake
Brian Francis Peake OAM is a former Australian rules footballer. He played for and in the Western Australian National Football League/West Australian Football League/WA State League and in the Victorian Football League...
.
Coaching Career
Rick Davies stayed on as non-playing coach of South Adelaide in 1987. Unfortunately the Panthers won the "Wooden Spoon" by finishing 10th and last in 1987 and Davies was replaced as coach. After sitting out 1988 he was signed as coach of Sturt after Mervyn KeaneMervyn Keane
Mervyn Keane is a former Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1972 and 1984 for the Richmond Football Club.Senior coach of the Sturt Football Club from 1985-1988 and Caulfield Grammarians.-References:...
(who had led the club to 5th in 1988) was controversially sacked as a result of a long committee in-fight. Under Davies coaching, Sturt finished last for the first of a SANFL-record eight consecutive years. Despite being told with five weeks of the season still to play that his contract was not under review, when Sturt were thrashed by Glenelg
Glenelg Tigers
Glenelg Football Club is an Australian rules football team, which plays in the South Australian National Football League. The club is known as the "Tigers" , and their home ground is Gliderol Stadium @ Glenelg , located in the southern coastal suburb of Glenelg East, South Australia.-Club...
by 132 points in their last match of the 1989 season, Davies resigned immediately.
Awards and Achievements
Rick Davies was awarded Life Membership as a player of the Sturt Football Club in 1977. His 781 SANFL goals see's him currently 5th on the all time list and his 151 goals in the 1983 season broke the record of 146 set only 3 years before by Port Adelaide's Tim EvansTim Evans
Tim Evans is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Geelong in the Victorian Football League and Port Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League ....
(Davies record was broken in 1990 by Port's Scott Hodges
Scott Hodges
Scott Lyall Hodges is a former Australian rules footballer and champion goal kicker who holds the SANFL record for most goals kicked in a league season when he kicked 153 goals in 1990...
who kicked 153). He was one of 113 inaugural inductees into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame
South Australian Football Hall of Fame
The South Australian Football Hall of Fame was created in 2002 to recognise the players, coaches, umpires, administrators and journalists who had made a significant contribution in the South Australian National Football League...
in 2002 while his 350 SANFL games for Sturt and South Adelaide has made him an SANFL Player Life Member
Such was the impact that Rick Davies had in his days with the Double Blues that he was an automatic choice in Sturts "Team of the Century" as both 1st Ruck
Ruckman (Australian rules football)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
and as a forward.
