Alwyn Davey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alwyn Davey |
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Alwyn Davey | ||
| Date of birth | 15 May 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Darwin, Northern Territory | ||
| Original team | South Adelaide (SANFL) | ||
| Draft | No. 36, 2006 national draft | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Alwyn Davey is a former Australian rules footballer. He played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was known for his amazing speed and exciting style of play.
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Early Life and Football Start
Alwyn Davey was born on May 15, 1984, in Darwin, Northern Territory. He is an Indigenous Australian and his family comes from the Kokatha people in South Australia.
Alwyn started playing junior football in Darwin. When he was eight years old, his father passed away. Later, Alwyn moved to Adelaide to play football for the South Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).
Getting Noticed by AFL Teams
Alwyn first caught the eye of AFL talent scouts because of his brother, Aaron Davey. Aaron was already playing well for the Melbourne Football Club.
In 2006, Alwyn trained with his brother at Melbourne. Many thought Melbourne would pick him. However, Alwyn was 22 years old at the time. Most players are drafted when they are 18, so he was considered older for the national draft.
But Kevin Sheedy, the coach of Essendon, was very interested in fast Indigenous players. Essendon chose Alwyn Davey in the third round of the 2006 AFL Draft.
Alwyn Davey's AFL Career
Alwyn Davey played for the Essendon Football Club from 2007 to 2013. He was known for his speed and exciting plays.
Making an Impact in 2007
Alwyn made his AFL debut in the first game of the 2007 AFL season. He quickly showed how good he was. He played in many games and often stood out as one of Essendon's best players.
He even had five "Goal of the Year" nominations in his first five AFL matches! Two of these were in the famous ANZAC Day match.
Alwyn became famous for his incredible speed. He could run 20 metres in just 2.75 seconds! This was thought to be the fastest in the league. He also became one of the shortest players in the AFL. Fans at Essendon gave him the nickname "Froggy" because of how he looked.
Unfortunately, in Round 14, Alwyn broke his arm during a game. This injury meant he missed the rest of the season. Essendon's performance dropped after he was out, and they missed the finals.
At the end of 2007, Alwyn won the AFL Army Award. This award is given to players who show bravery or selflessness to help their team during a game. He won it for his efforts against Hawthorn in Round 6.
Injuries and Return to Play
In 2008, Alwyn twisted his right knee during training. He needed surgery and had to miss the entire season. Even though he kept training, his coach did not want to risk him playing too soon.
In 2009, Alwyn returned to the Essendon team. He was a welcome addition, especially for his strong defensive pressure in the forward line. He even led the team in tackles for a while.
End of His Playing Days
In 2013, the Essendon Football Club announced that Alwyn Davey would not be offered a contract for the 2014 AFL season. This meant his time playing in the AFL had come to an end.
Family Connections
Alwyn Davey has strong family ties in the football world. His cousin is Gavin Wanganeen, who won the Brownlow Medal, a very important award in AFL.
Alwyn was named after his father. In 2022, Alwyn's twin sons, Alwyn Jr. and Jayden, were drafted by Essendon. They joined the club under the father–son rule, which allows teams to draft players whose fathers played for them. It's amazing that his sons are now playing for the same club!
