Australian Football

Fred Davies was a popular figure at Carlton during a 125-game, 137-goal VFL career that began in 1941 and ended after the losing first semi final of 1952 against Fitzroy. He missed four complete seasons because of war service. Equally at home as a follower or in either key forward position, Davies was among the best players afield with a four-goal performance in the Blues' 13.8 (86) to 11.19 (85) Grand Final victory over Essendon in 1947. He also played in the losing Grand Final against the same opposition two years later. Davies served as Carlton's vice-captain during his final VFL season.

In 1953 he crossed the Bass Strait after being appointed captain-coach of NTFA club Longford. He spent half a dozen seasons with the Tigers, steering them to three local premierships from four Grand Finals, plus the 1957 state flag. On the personal front, he won an Association best and fairest award under-written by "The Mercury" newspaper in 1956. In 1961, just three years after retiring as a player, Fred Davies passed away at the tragically early age of forty. Precisely forty years later his importance in the history of the Longford Football Club was emphasised when he was selected as captain-coach and first ruckman in the club's official 'Team of the Century'.

Author - John Devaney