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Found this on Bigfooty ..From today copy of The Advertiser (SA)
From the bush to the city
By ZAC MILBANK
26nov03
MATT Davis didn't even listen to the AFL national draft on Saturday.
After playing just a handful of games for North Adelaide's under-17s this season, the 17-year-old from Jamestown expected to be guided by local coach Mick Redden next season.
Instead, his mentor will be Paul Roos in Sydney.
"I wasn't doing much at all," Davis, who was taken with the Swans' final choice at pick 59, admitted.
"My dad's mate rang up and told me I was drafted . . . so I was pretty excited. He rang up to congratulate me and I didn't even know so I went on the Internet and found out for myself."
Dubbed the genuine "smoky" of the draft, Davis was virtually unheard of before November 22.
Coming from a town with a population of about 1500, this is just the way the athletic youngster likes it.
"It takes away a lot of the pressure and expectation," Davis, who only found out about Sydney's interest after he completed his Year 12 exams, said.
"(Adam) Cooney and those guys would be under heaps of pressure but I can just go about it by myself in my own way."
And if the likable teenager is as adaptable off the field as he is on it, he should have little difficulty in dealing with the massive change in lifestyle which awaits him. "It's a bit daunting because it's a big step from a country town but I'm excited about it," Davis said. "It just shows that anyone can get there if the (recruiting) scouts see you play."
Having two South Australians ? Josh Willoughby (Glenelg) and Tim Schmidt (West Adelaide) ? embark on the same journey should also assist him in making the transition.
"I know Josh from state (junior) footy and I'm looking forward to getting over there with them both," Davis, who played in an A grade premiership with Jamestown/Peterborough this season, said.
"It's certainly better than going over there alone."
But the question remains, why does Sydney want the raw teenager?
"I'm like a Jade Rawlings-type player," Davis, 190cm and 75kg, said.
"I like to run and jump and take marks. I'm pretty fast off the mark so I like to use my pace because I'm not very big or bulky." Blessed with a significant standing leap of more than 70cm, Davis could prove to be a strong pack mark in the ilk of Rawlings and, in the future, used as a foil up forward for his new housemate Barry Hall.
But there is someone else Sydney recruiting manager Rick Barham was reminded of when he witnessed Davis' ability north of the Clare Valley. "He (Barham) said today that I looked like Jason Saddington five years ago sitting here," Davis said. "It's pretty good because he's similar to Rawlings as well."
If he follows Saddington's career path, a defensive post could also be an option, another reason Barham has tapped into Davis' potential.
"With Jamestown I played all over the place," Davis said.
"Ruck, wing, half-back flank, half-forward flank and I played centre half-back in the grand final."
Sounds like Davis could be just the player every AFL coach dreams of having on their list.
From the bush to the city
By ZAC MILBANK
26nov03
MATT Davis didn't even listen to the AFL national draft on Saturday.
After playing just a handful of games for North Adelaide's under-17s this season, the 17-year-old from Jamestown expected to be guided by local coach Mick Redden next season.
Instead, his mentor will be Paul Roos in Sydney.
"I wasn't doing much at all," Davis, who was taken with the Swans' final choice at pick 59, admitted.
"My dad's mate rang up and told me I was drafted . . . so I was pretty excited. He rang up to congratulate me and I didn't even know so I went on the Internet and found out for myself."
Dubbed the genuine "smoky" of the draft, Davis was virtually unheard of before November 22.
Coming from a town with a population of about 1500, this is just the way the athletic youngster likes it.
"It takes away a lot of the pressure and expectation," Davis, who only found out about Sydney's interest after he completed his Year 12 exams, said.
"(Adam) Cooney and those guys would be under heaps of pressure but I can just go about it by myself in my own way."
And if the likable teenager is as adaptable off the field as he is on it, he should have little difficulty in dealing with the massive change in lifestyle which awaits him. "It's a bit daunting because it's a big step from a country town but I'm excited about it," Davis said. "It just shows that anyone can get there if the (recruiting) scouts see you play."
Having two South Australians ? Josh Willoughby (Glenelg) and Tim Schmidt (West Adelaide) ? embark on the same journey should also assist him in making the transition.
"I know Josh from state (junior) footy and I'm looking forward to getting over there with them both," Davis, who played in an A grade premiership with Jamestown/Peterborough this season, said.
"It's certainly better than going over there alone."
But the question remains, why does Sydney want the raw teenager?
"I'm like a Jade Rawlings-type player," Davis, 190cm and 75kg, said.
"I like to run and jump and take marks. I'm pretty fast off the mark so I like to use my pace because I'm not very big or bulky." Blessed with a significant standing leap of more than 70cm, Davis could prove to be a strong pack mark in the ilk of Rawlings and, in the future, used as a foil up forward for his new housemate Barry Hall.
But there is someone else Sydney recruiting manager Rick Barham was reminded of when he witnessed Davis' ability north of the Clare Valley. "He (Barham) said today that I looked like Jason Saddington five years ago sitting here," Davis said. "It's pretty good because he's similar to Rawlings as well."
If he follows Saddington's career path, a defensive post could also be an option, another reason Barham has tapped into Davis' potential.
"With Jamestown I played all over the place," Davis said.
"Ruck, wing, half-back flank, half-forward flank and I played centre half-back in the grand final."
Sounds like Davis could be just the player every AFL coach dreams of having on their list.
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