FROGGY’S BACK
Magpies star pays tribute to support
RETURNING Magpie hero Alwyn “Froggy” Davey has praised his family’s, friends’ and clubmates’ support after his long-awaited return.
Davey, 32, was one of 34 past and present Essendon footballers banned for being involved in the AFL club’s notorious 2012 supplements program.
The Palmerston great played 100 AFL games for the Bombers between 2007 and 2013. Yesterday’s 24-point win over Wanderers came 405 days after his previous match for the Pies on January 10 last year, also an 18point victory against the Buffaloes.
“I was pretty flat and keen to get back into the club,” Davey told the Sunday Territorian. “Seeing the club lose by over 100 points every week hurt me, but also the club and players.
“My family got me through. I’ve got five kids and with their support and my wife’s, it’s been outstanding. My family in Darwin have helped me a lot along the way as well.”
Davey didn’t take the field until al- most the 11-minute mark after suffering pre-match nerves, but received a huge roar when he did.
He finished with two goals and played a key role in Palmerston’s third season win, alongside his brother and fellow retired AFL star Aaron.
Davey is interested in again serving as a co-coach of his NTFL club – this time with Tavis Perry – after working with Shaun Cusack in the 2015-16 season.
“I’ll have to sit down with the coach, Tav, and discuss further stuff with the playing list and what we’ve got next year,” he said. “Hopefully we can keep the same guys here at the club and move forward and get a few more wins.”
Perry was thrilled to have Davey back in the fold.
“I thought his composure under pressure and ability to hit targets was a class above and those couple of goals he kicked at the end (were im- portant),” Perry said. “It was just that bit of excitement we’ve really lacked all year and the boys just got around him. He’s such a popular figure at the club, as well as having done so well in his football career – everyone absolutely loves him.”
Davey said he had no idea back in 2012 that what was happening was anything that would cause so much grief.
He was “devastated” with the final verdict that cost him a year out of the game, a fate his close friends Leroy Jetta and Paddy Ryder were also forced to endure.
“I just went with the club (Essendon) with their decision, like all the players, and I thought it was nothing big,” he said. “It was a long process to get rubbed out for the year after three years into it.
“It dragged on and I just wanted to move on. It was a little bit emotional, but it’s good to be back and to be able to move on with my life.”