Australian Football

Edwin Daviess (the double ‘s’ is correct) of West Torrens was arguably the premier South Australian full back of the immediate post-world war one era. He represented South Australia at both the 1921 Perth and 1924 Hobart carnivals, and all told played a total of eight games for his state. Extremely solid and reliable, he was an expert at the full back’s art of racing confidently out from goal to meet the ball and then clearing it with interest back toward the centre of the ground. Strong overhead, he knew when to spoil, and when to try for the mark, and was rarely caught out of position. His 108 SAFL games for Torrens included the Challenge Final of 1924, when he was one of the best players afield in the blue and golds’ eight-point win over Sturt. Daviess, who captained his club in 1922, would be a warm favourite to occupy the full back position should any official ‘all time great’ West Torrens team ever be selected.

In 1937 Daviess returned to Torrens as non-playing coach, leading the side as far as the first semi final, where, in what was his sole season in charge, it lost by 50 points to South Adelaide.

Author - John Devaney