AFL Tasmania is pleased to announce a new inductee to the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame, Gary Davis.
Quietly spoken but a fierce competitor, Gary Davis was one of the finest defenders in northern Tasmanian football for nearly 20 years.
The son of legendary East Devonport figure Max Davis, Gary represented Tasmania regularly in junior basketball before deciding to concentrate on football, making his senior debut with East Devonport as a 17-year-old in 1968.
The teenager starred in the club’s drought-breaking NWFU premiership triumph over Ulverstone and winning back-to-back club Best & Fairest awards.
The young star transferring to NTFA club Launceston in 1970 for the first of three separate stints with the Blues totalling 11 years.
Davis continued his development into a superb defender, regularly tasked with curtailing the influence of many dangerous and versatile opposition stars such as Max Hadley (Scottsdale) and Kevin McLean (North Launceston).
More often than not he did so successfully, though always with the utmost fairness - in an 18-year playing career, Davis never once found himself in the umpire's book, a noteworthy achievement in a notoriously hard and rugged era.
In addition, he was a remarkably resilient player, averaging more than 20 games a season during his first 10 years with Launceston, something undoubtedly aided by his unrelentingly diligent attitude to fitness.
The high water mark of his career came from 1971-74, during which time he was a frequent NTFA representative and won four state guernseys for Tasmania, including at the 1972 National Carnival in Perth.
His efforts at club level were also regularly acknowledged, captaining Launceston in 1974 and twice winning the A. W. Freeland Medal as Best & Fairest either side of a two-season stint back in the NWFU with Devonport.
Despite his brilliance, he never harboured ambitions to play at the ‘highest’ level, content to ply his trade quietly but efficiently at home.
Unfortunately, Davis had the distinct misfortune to miss both Launceston premierships of the era in 1976 (playing with Devonport) and 1985 (injury), while playing in four Grand Final losses.
Davis joined Bridgenorth in the Tamar Association in 1982, winning premierships with the Parrots in 1983-84 before bringing down the curtain on his outstanding career with one final season at Launceston.
Subsequent selection in the club’s Team of the Century and Life Membership were just recognition for an outstanding career spanning more than 360 senior games.
Gary Davis will be honoured alongside his fellow Hall of Fame inductees at AFL Tasmania’s night of nights later this month.
For the first time since the inaugural Hall of Fame Gala Dinner – Icons Royce Hart, Peter Hudson and Ian Stewart will all be in attendance, offering a special opportunity to talk to the trio in an exciting time for the game in Tasmania.
The night will feature five new inductees, one Icon elevation and the induction of George Town’s legendary team that won eight flags in a row from 2002 – 2009.
The Gala Dinner is taking place on Friday February 28 at My State Bank Arena.