Today the tributes flow for Bob Davis, “The Geelong Flyer”, as well they should. Davis passed away yesterday at the age of 82. With it, he leaves behind a legacy as Geelong’s favourite son.
The reason Bob Davis is so fondly remembered isn’t his footballing ability, though he had loads.
Neither is it his coaching, which delivered in 1963 Corio Bay’s last flag for the twentieth century.
It wasn’t World of Sport, “Fair Dinkum Unbelievable”, League Teams or the Three Wise Monkeys. It was his lifetime love for Geelong Football Club.
Bobby was the essence of a one-club man, totally aware of the incredible gift the Cats were to the city of Greater Geelong.
It would be unfair to gloss over his influential play and coaching. As a half-forward flanker, his athleticism was unparalleled and he boasted a devastating long kick. He represented his state with flair and distinction. Any rumours suggesting the Cat teams of those years weren’t tough are completely unfounded – no-one won in that era without being hard.
He captained, coached – starting at 26 – and won a Best and Fairest award before calling time on a 189-game career. Perhaps the greatest compliment paid to him is that the iconic image of him, in full stream with football tucked under arm, is one of the defining images of that era of Aussie Rules.
There’s a pleasing symmetry in that during his coaching period US President John F. Kennedy declared “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”, because that was Bob’s attitude to the Kardinia Park faithful.
After taking over the reins as Geelong coach, he brought Polly Farmer to Geelong and used Polly’s unique skill-set to kickstart a running game which echoed back to Hickey’s slick, speedy 1951-52-53 unit; teams in which Bob Davis was a key member.
Bob Davis defined Geelong Football Club for over sixty years. During that time, he was an entertainer both on and off the oval. Alongside Jack Dyer and Lou Richards in League Teams, Davis had access to almost every home in Victoria in a format-defining show which with the modern proliferation of media sources will never again be replicated. His – and his comrades’ – impact on football commentary shows should make (Davis protégé) Sam Newman, Eddie McGuire and the Cats’ next best born entertainer, Billy Brownless, offer up daily prayers of thanks. There was no laddish behaviour or uncouthness, only three blokes having fun talking about football.
Throughout almost his entire adult life, Bobby was the first source for comment on all matters Geelong: from the brawl with Hawthorn in 1985 to near-bankruptcy in the early 2000s and finally, memorably, awarding Tom Harley the 2009 Premiership Cup and celebrating with “the boys”.
He was conscious of the blessing the win would be not only to the players, coaches and administrators of Geelong Football Club but also the boon it would prove to the entire region.
The city of Geelong, the AFL community and a lot of Victoria will mourn his passing.
Bob Davis, dead at eighty-two. He will be remembered. He will be missed.
Matthew Wood writes at Balanced Sports
matthew_wood040
Roar Rookie
Reading an article in The Age, perhaps the most touching thing I discovered about Bobby was that in the late '70s he took his family to England for a year to sell cars to see if he could survive without Aussie Rules. The article said that he loved it so much, he nearly stayed. I just love that image - of such an iconic AFL guy having perspective enough to be able to walk away.
Bayman
Guest
In a time (the 1960s) when Victorians could seriously irritate South Australians, even the Croweaters could appreciate Bob Davis as a great player and great lover of the game. As I grew up Bob Davis and Geelong were almost one and the same. Certainly Bob Davis never seemed to display the outrageous Victorian bias of his two mates, Richards and Dyer. Poor old Bob was coach of the Victorian team which lost to South Australia at the MCG in 1963. For one of the very few times the Vics chose their best possible side (instead of the normal two from most clubs and one from the bottom clubs). Dyer famously said all Davis had to do was turn up, give the pre-match address then go to the races. Despite the unexpected loss, Davis was gracious in defeat and it was greatly appreciated in SA. Most of us were pleased to see Geelong win the flag that year under Bob's coaching. It must have been disappointing for Bob to have to wait so long to be replaced as "Geelong's last premiership coach". The great thing was that he saw it happen in his lifetime and then it happened again two years later. No man was more pleased to lose the tag. Well done, Bob Davis. A credit to yourself, your family and your club. It's all anyone could ask.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
AFL 360 had a bit to say about Bobby Davis tonight. As Gerard said, it's a send off rarely given to ex-footballers, or anyone else for that matter. I loved the pictures of Bobby holding onto the premiership cup with the Geelong players. Here's a bloke who had won premierships as player and coach, but the 2007 and 2009 premierships were every bit as special, he was as overjoyed as the players themselves. Being part of Geelong, he understood better than anyone else that ultimately footy is about the people and the communities. It's our game - we are the ones that make it what it is - the game belongs to the people.
BigAl
Guest
One thing that seems to have been forgotten about Bobby Davis was that he was a very keen and accomplished ballroom dancer. If he had been playing today, he would've killed 'em on Dancing With The Stars ! p.s. I loved the line that he used to describe himself. . . ' the last of the non-thinking coaches' - classic Bobby Davis.
Redb
Roar Guru
The Footy Show this week is a must see.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
+1
Redb
Roar Guru
My thoughts exactly. RIP Bobby Davis.
mds1970
Roar Guru
I grew up watching League Teams with the three wise monkeys on Thursday nights - the fore-runner to The Footy Show. But my lasting memory will be Davis presenting the 2009 cup and remaining on the stage to celebrate with the team. RIP Bob Davis. He will be warmly remembered in footy circles. And thankfully he lived to see Geelong's 2007 and 2009 premierships.