Leon Davis (footballer) facts for kids

Leon Davis (born 17 June 1981) is a former professional Australian rules football player. He played for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Leon was known for his exciting style of play. Fans sometimes called him "Neon Leon."

He started his career as a forward, scoring many goals. Later, he became a strong defender. Leon was picked for the All-Australian team twice. This is a special team made up of the best players in the league. He also won the Goal of the Year award in 2008 for an amazing play.

Early Life and Junior Football

Leon Davis grew up in Northam, Western Australia. He is of Aboriginal heritage. Leon played junior football for the Railways Football Club. He also played for the Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL).

In 1999, Leon was chosen by the Collingwood Football Club. This happened in the AFL National Draft. He was the 34th player picked overall.

Leon's AFL Journey

Leon Davis quickly became a regular player for Collingwood. He played almost 40 games in his first two seasons. He often played as a small forward, scoring nearly one goal per game.

Grand Final Appearances

In 2002, Leon played 23 matches and kicked 31 goals. He also played in the Grand Final against the Brisbane Lions. Unfortunately, Collingwood lost that game.

He faced a tough time in the 2003 season. But he bounced back strongly in 2004. He played 19 games and kicked 23 goals that year.

Milestones and New Roles

In 2005, Leon played his 100th game. This was a big moment for him and the club. He was the first Aboriginal player to reach 100 games for Collingwood.

After playing as a forward for six years, Leon tried a new role. In 2007, he spent some time playing in the midfield. He still managed to kick 29 goals that season.

Awards and Recognition

In 2008, Leon had a fantastic year. He finished fourth in the Copeland Trophy. This award goes to Collingwood's best and fairest player. He also played for the Dream Team in a special AFL Hall of Fame game.

Leon won the Goal of the Year award in 2008. He made an incredible play against Fremantle. He tackled an opponent, got the ball, and kicked a goal from a very difficult angle.

In 2009, Leon was featured in an AFL television ad. He was shown playing football in unusual places. He even played on an ice hockey rink! This showed how popular and skilled he was.

All-Australian Selections

Leon had another strong year in 2009. He was chosen for the All-Australian team as a forward pocket. This means he was one of the best forwards in the entire league.

His form dipped a little in 2010. He played in the drawn Grand Final, kicking an important goal. However, he was not selected for the replay game, which Collingwood won. Even though he received a premiership medal for the drawn game, the AFL does not officially count him as a premiership player.

In 2011, Leon made a big change. He moved to play in the backline as a defender. He was very successful in this new role. He earned his second selection in the All-Australian team. He also finished fifth in the Copeland Trophy.

Life After Collingwood

Leon Davis left Collingwood at the end of 2011. He wanted to return to Perth with his family. He signed a two-year contract to play for his old WAFL team, Perth.

Leon was known for his special "banana kick" shot at goal. This kick curves the ball towards the goals. He was nominated for Goal of the Year several times for these kicks.

Even though he was a great player, some people felt he struggled in big finals games. Despite this, Leon played in four Grand Finals during his career. He showed great skill and determination throughout his time in the AFL.

Career Statistics Summary

Leon Davis played a total of 225 games for Collingwood. He kicked 270 goals during his career. He was a versatile player, able to score goals and defend strongly.