Leon Davis (footballer)
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| Personal Info | |
|---|---|
| Birth | June 17, 1981, Western Australia |
| Recruited from | Perth (WA) |
| Height/Weight | 178cm / 82kg |
| Playing Career¹ | |
| Debut | Round 1, March 13, 2000, Collingwood vs. Hawthorn, at Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| Team(s) | Collingwood (2000-)
115 Games, 138 Goals |
| ¹ Statistics to end of 2005 season | |
| Career Highlights | |
'Neon' Leon Davis (born June 17, 1981) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.
Drafted to Collingwood in 1999 as a small aboriginal forward, Davis made an early impression at the Pies and played Round 1 in his debut season. He showed what he was capable of, turning a match, but also that he was inconsistent. He could light up a game and determine a result, or he could shut off for 4 quarters and have zero impact. Despite being dropped several times, he still notched up just under 40 games in his first two seasons and almost going at a goal a game on average.
He has been nicknamed "Neon" Leon, although apparently he doesn't like it.
In 2002 he played 23 games for the season including the Grand Final, but didn't get a touch of the ball for the entire game of a lifetime, in what almost saw a premiership. He kicked 31 goals for the year, including consecutive bags of 4 goals mid-season. One of the luckiest turn of events in 2003 however saw Davis come from the reserves straight into the Preliminary final side, after 3 months, but once again, had no impact in the Grand Final. Despite lack of form, 'neon Leon' played 19 games in a dismal 2004 for the Pies, he still managed 23 goals.
In 2005 he started well, but a wrist injury forced him out for a month, but never broke back into the side until late in the season. He did however bring up his 100th game, becoming the first Aborigine to do so for Collingwood. He also encountered trouble with radio commentator Rex Hunt over an incident in which Hunt called Davis 'as black as a dog' during the call against Essendon mid-way through the season.
Davis had a solid start to the 2006 season, showing his true value to the side in the first-half. He had an interrupted second half however, with a thigh injury sustained against Richmond, the same match he was in a contest with Chris Newman which resulted in Newman to break his leg. Davis would then be dropped after coming back into the side, but forced his way back in a week later. He made an impression in the midfield, before he would fracture his fibula/ankle and couldn't get back on the track for finals. He kicked 23 goals in 15 games.
