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How the kid who came home became Sydney's prophet
August 21, 2003
The l the hard work is paying off for a Magpie who became a Swan, writes Jessica Halloran.
It was in the thick heat of summer that Nick Davis realised what was going to happen. Back then, he had an inkling that he'd shuffled into a club that was bubbling on enough self-belief for it to be successful.
It was in January that the Swans forward became a football prophet.
"I see Sydney in the same position as Collingwood were last year: a lot of inner-belief in the way that we can play and the outside people not knowing a lot about Sydney this year," Davis said back then. "I think it's going to be an exciting year."
Not wrong, Nick. Yesterday, standing on the edge of the Telstra Stadium oval, the winter cold nipping at his bare legs, the Sydney-born-and-bred former Magpie reflected on his words, with only four days until the crucial clash between his new club and his old one.
"It's the feeling I had," Davis said. "I walked into the club, there's a real inner-belief. We don't claim to be superstars, we just want to be a winning team.
"That works, it's proved it has worked. Collingwood proved it last year. We had Bucks [Nathan Buckley] and then it was a really even spread . . . the similarities have been amazing."
Davis is a fan of Cronulla rugby league side. He attended State of Origin II in June at Telstra Stadium and that evening reaffirmed his desire to be in a grand final.
"It was the first time I'd been in a packed stadium, a really big packed stadium, since grand final day," he said. "It brought back a few memories. You sit there and you go, 'I really want to be out there to experience a grand final again'. That State of Origin game out here has been what's driving me the last couple of months."
The prospect of featuring in the finals inspired the 23-year-old to improve his fitness and, with the help of club veteran Daryn Cresswell, about a month ago he upped his work-rate, dropped a few kilograms and is in really good shape.
"I know what finals are about. I know in Sydney two weeks out before the finals there's not a lot of talk but in Melbourne the town will be really buzzing, the pressure will be on," Davis said.
"A lot of people try to stay away from the hype, but I think it's good to be involved in it, to know what you are playing for. A spot in the top four is really crucial."
As the most recent Swan to have played in a grand final team, albeit a losing one, Davis has been trying to spread the excitement.
"I've tried to tell them but I haven't really been known for my leadership skills, more for my practical joking and laziness.
"It takes a lot to win a premiership," Davis said. "You don't just fall upon it. You play hard.
"I know being at Collingwood last year, Collingwood guys worked really hard last year to make it. I'm just trying to help the guys along. Once you get to the finals it's only half-done.
"Being in the grand final last year I know what I'll be missing out on if I don't make it this year. A few of the guys mightn't know that."
Like coach Paul Roos, Davis, who spent four years at Victoria Park, can see some similarities in the two teams. But while everyone knew Collingwood's strengths last year, Davis believes the Swans have a mystery factor, with some relatively unknown players. "We've got the unpredictability that we might need in the finals."
The leadership group has been another vital component of the Swans' success. "A lot of the decisions that get made come from the players," he said.
"It probably means a lot more when it comes from the players than from the coaches. You feel like you are letting your mates down rather than the coaches."
When Davis asked to leave the Magpies to come home he copped angry letters and phone calls. The Magpie army can be vicious.
"The Swans fans will be in for a rude shock. It's probably nothing they have ever seen before," he said. "Both teams are going for the same spot. It's going to be massive."http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/...368359221.html
August 21, 2003
The l the hard work is paying off for a Magpie who became a Swan, writes Jessica Halloran.
It was in the thick heat of summer that Nick Davis realised what was going to happen. Back then, he had an inkling that he'd shuffled into a club that was bubbling on enough self-belief for it to be successful.
It was in January that the Swans forward became a football prophet.
"I see Sydney in the same position as Collingwood were last year: a lot of inner-belief in the way that we can play and the outside people not knowing a lot about Sydney this year," Davis said back then. "I think it's going to be an exciting year."
Not wrong, Nick. Yesterday, standing on the edge of the Telstra Stadium oval, the winter cold nipping at his bare legs, the Sydney-born-and-bred former Magpie reflected on his words, with only four days until the crucial clash between his new club and his old one.
"It's the feeling I had," Davis said. "I walked into the club, there's a real inner-belief. We don't claim to be superstars, we just want to be a winning team.
"That works, it's proved it has worked. Collingwood proved it last year. We had Bucks [Nathan Buckley] and then it was a really even spread . . . the similarities have been amazing."
Davis is a fan of Cronulla rugby league side. He attended State of Origin II in June at Telstra Stadium and that evening reaffirmed his desire to be in a grand final.
"It was the first time I'd been in a packed stadium, a really big packed stadium, since grand final day," he said. "It brought back a few memories. You sit there and you go, 'I really want to be out there to experience a grand final again'. That State of Origin game out here has been what's driving me the last couple of months."
The prospect of featuring in the finals inspired the 23-year-old to improve his fitness and, with the help of club veteran Daryn Cresswell, about a month ago he upped his work-rate, dropped a few kilograms and is in really good shape.
"I know what finals are about. I know in Sydney two weeks out before the finals there's not a lot of talk but in Melbourne the town will be really buzzing, the pressure will be on," Davis said.
"A lot of people try to stay away from the hype, but I think it's good to be involved in it, to know what you are playing for. A spot in the top four is really crucial."
As the most recent Swan to have played in a grand final team, albeit a losing one, Davis has been trying to spread the excitement.
"I've tried to tell them but I haven't really been known for my leadership skills, more for my practical joking and laziness.
"It takes a lot to win a premiership," Davis said. "You don't just fall upon it. You play hard.
"I know being at Collingwood last year, Collingwood guys worked really hard last year to make it. I'm just trying to help the guys along. Once you get to the finals it's only half-done.
"Being in the grand final last year I know what I'll be missing out on if I don't make it this year. A few of the guys mightn't know that."
Like coach Paul Roos, Davis, who spent four years at Victoria Park, can see some similarities in the two teams. But while everyone knew Collingwood's strengths last year, Davis believes the Swans have a mystery factor, with some relatively unknown players. "We've got the unpredictability that we might need in the finals."
The leadership group has been another vital component of the Swans' success. "A lot of the decisions that get made come from the players," he said.
"It probably means a lot more when it comes from the players than from the coaches. You feel like you are letting your mates down rather than the coaches."
When Davis asked to leave the Magpies to come home he copped angry letters and phone calls. The Magpie army can be vicious.
"The Swans fans will be in for a rude shock. It's probably nothing they have ever seen before," he said. "Both teams are going for the same spot. It's going to be massive."http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/...368359221.html
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