DAVEY, Alwyn

Alwyn "Froggy" Davey was picked at 36 in the 2006 AFL National Draft. He was an excellent junior footballer with Palmerston and represented the Northern Territory in 1999, winning All-Australian selection. While still a teenager, he was a member of the 2000/01 and 2001/02 Northern Territory Football League (NTFL) premiership teams in addition to playing in the 1999/00 and 2002/03 grand final teams.

He moved to Adelaide and played with Port Adelaide and then South Adelaide. Melbourne invited him to train with his brother, Aaron, but chose not to draft him. Some thought he was too old to draft at 22 years, but Essendon coach, Kevin Sheedy, saw his potential.

Reputedly the fastest player in the League, and one of the shortest, he was a skilfull player who thrilled supporters with the flair so typical of Indigenous players. But he was also a very strong defensive player in the forward line and laid many tackles on opponents. This aspect of his game was recognised when he won the AFL Army Award in the 2007 game against Hawthorn. This award was given to players who "produce act(s) of bravery or selflessness to promote the cause of his team". He won four of the six nominations for the year.

He made his debut in Round 1, 2007, and played 14 consecutive games before injuries finished his season. But he had made an immediate impression by winning five AFL Goal of the Day nominations in his first five games, including two on Anzac Day. Not surprisingly, he was named Essendon's Best First Year Player. However, a serious knee injury limited his 2008 season to only eight games.

Davey bounced back in 2009 and played 17 consecutive games before missing one game, finishing with 20 for the year. He continued this good form and reached his 100th game in the last match of the 2013 season. He also played in the International Rules in 2013.

He was not offered a contract for 2014 so he returned to Palmerston and won their best and fairest award in the next two seasons. He also finished runner-up in the NT Thunder Club Champion Award in 2014. He was co-captain in 2016/17 and 2017/18 and became co-coach in 2015/16 and coach in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 season. He was unable to play in the 2015/16 season as he was one of players suspended due to the Supplements saga.

He was inducted into the AFLNT Hall of Fame in 2019.

Alwyn Davey is from a strong football family. His twin sons, Alwyn jr and Jayden, were drafted by Essendon in 2022. His third son, Alijah, was a member of James Hird Academy Flight Squad in 2021. His cousin, Gavin Wanganeen, was an Essendon champion and his brother, Aaron, was a great Melbourne player.