CLUB LEGEND - Tom Davis

TOM DAVIS

PERTH FOOTBALL CLUB

LEGEND 2013

The Perth Football Club's board of directors has unanimously agreed that our champion ruckman, Tom Davis, will be the Club's Legend for the 2013 season.

Tom has a unique record in the Club's proud and long history. He is the only player from Perth's two point victory in the epic 1955 Grand Final to again taste the ultimate success in the next premiership side in 1966 -- a clear example of his ability to perform at the highest level over an extended period. 

That also makes him the first Perth player to be in two league premiership teams.

The rangy 6'4" ruckman joined the Club from Pemberton in the South-West in 1954 and played 220 league games before retiring after the 1966 premiership win. He was also a State representative, including at the  Australian Football Carnival in Perth in 1956 in the WA team coached by Ern Henfry and captained by Keith Harper.

Tom  gave the great Merv McIntosh --  who was in his final season --  invaluable support in the ruck in 1955, and was very handy in the forward line as an alternative target to star goalsneak Ron Tucker and sharpshooting rover Dick Walker.

The Sunday Times credited Tom with the "mark that won the grand final" in 1955. He rose over a pack in Perth's forward line to take the mark, with just six minutes to go in the last quarter. He then kicked accurately to put Perth in front. It was the last goal of the match, played before a record crowd of 42,000.

The Football Budget of October 15, 1955, had this to say about Tom: "Tall, lightly built, but strong. Sure in the air and difficult to beat in the packs. Played a great second half in the grand final."

After Big Mac's retirement Tom virtually carried the ruck against opponents such as Graham Farmer, Brian Foley, Keith Slater and Jack Clarke, until the arrival of a young Pat Astone in the early 1960s, and later Barry Chitleborough and Graham Edwards in the mid 60s.

He was persuaded by new coach Malcolm Atwell to continue in 1966 as the team's veteran player.  His experience was invaluable and he came on as a reserve in that year's grand final to blunt an East Perth fightback in Perth's stirring 16 point win -- a great note for Tom to retire on.

Tom switched from guernsey number 13 to number 30 early in his career after a serious kidney injury. He also suffered several shoulder dislocations. The change of number worked, and he made a magnificent contribution to football in general and Perth in particular.

Congratulations to Tom on being awarded "Club Legend" for 2013.