The OZ article on Matt Davis

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  • SWANSBEST
    On the Rookie List
    • Jan 2003
    • 868

    The OZ article on Matt Davis

    Davis Sydney-bound

    November 27, 2003
    MATT Who? That was the immediate reaction when the Sydney Swans drafted Matt Davis with their final pick last Saturday.




    The skinny 17-year-old from Jamestown, population 1500 and a 3 1/2-hour drive out of Adelaide, had completely slipped under everyone's radar.

    Except for Sydney's.

    Swans recruitment manager Rick Barham caught only a glimpse of Davis in a SANFL under-17 game for North Adelaide back in May.

    Barham puts it down to a "stroke of luck" because Davis elected to concentrate on his Year 12 exams to get into university to study sports science and only played for North Adelaide under-17s three times.

    Barham said Davis reminded him of a young, raw Jason Saddington or new Bulldog Jade Rawlings.

    "Matt is very much a project player but he's really athletic, he's got great speed, is lightning quick, and he can jump over the moon," Barham said.

    "Plus he's fairly strong for his lean build and a very good tackler in close.

    "We knew he could play a little bit after watching him at country level as a 16 or 17-year-old kid up against men, but that was about all," said Barham.

    "We didn't know how tall he really was, we didn't know he was a gun student, we didn't know he had a 70cm vertical jump, we didn't know he was an excellent sprinter.?

    What is more intriguing is the fact Davis' parents, without their son's knowledge, filled in the AFL draft nomination form and sent it off.

    It wasn't until after his final exams when Davis' mum asked him "how would you like to go to Sydney to play footy" that he found out the Swans were officially interested.http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...E23211,00.html
    Last edited by SWANSBEST; 27 November 2003, 05:52 AM.
    WMP
  • Dpw
    On the Rookie List
    • Jan 2003
    • 829

    #2
    Re: The OZ article on Matt Davis

    Yawn, should of gone in the top five from this.

    Comment

    • Bleed Red Blood
      Senior Player
      • Sep 2003
      • 2057

      #3
      Every player is made out to be a match winner. Though he sounds alright he wont get a game in our 22 for a long while.

      Comment

      • gloveski
        Senior Player
        • Jan 2003
        • 1018

        #4
        good to see barham is willing to back his judgement , worth the risk because more mobile talls can't be a bad thing.........since he has already played against men it will be interesting to see if he has any impact in the ACTAFL

        Comment

        • Ajn
          Draft Scout
          • Jan 2003
          • 711

          #5
          Project players at this stage of the draft, won't set the world alight straight away. Few draftees do, however if a gamble on an erratic, uncontrollable, dreadlocked, soccer crazed, teenager who was changed into a Brownlow medalist can work, then why not! Remember he didn't get a gig until his second season.
          Staying ahead of the game...

          Comment

          • Bleed Red Blood
            Senior Player
            • Sep 2003
            • 2057

            #6
            Originally posted by Ajn
            Project players at this stage of the draft, won't set the world alight straight away. Few draftees do, however if a gamble on an erratic, uncontrollable, dreadlocked, soccer crazed, teenager who was changed into a Brownlow medalist can work, then why not! Remember he didn't get a gig until his second season.
            Who was this?

            Comment

            • Tuhob
              Pushing for Selection
              • Sep 2003
              • 65

              #7
              Who was this?
              I believe Ajn was referring to Adam Goodes .

              Comment

              • Bleed Red Blood
                Senior Player
                • Sep 2003
                • 2057

                #8
                Originally posted by Tuhob
                I believe Ajn was referring to Adam Goodes .
                Of course

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