Australian Football

Fred Davies was an abundantly talented centreman or half forward flanker who for much of his time in Sydney was widely considered the top player in the NSWA(N)FL. At the 1927 Melbourne carnival he was among the New South Wales team’s most influential performers, a fact recognised by the Melbourne media.

Davies began his league career in 1925 with Paddington before playing for Eastern Suburbs between 1926 and 1929. In both 1926 and 1927 the team claimed the premiership. A five year sojourn in the VFL followed with Davies playing 63 senior games and scoring 11 goals for Fitzroy, impressing the normally cynical Victorian public in the process. For part of the 1934 season he served as club skipper. Returning to Sydney in 1935 he played out the last four seasons of his career with St George, whom he captained in 1937-8. His representative career comprised 17 games for New South Wales, and he coached the state side for a match against Carlton in 1939.

Author - John Devaney