Davies Takes Out The 2015 E.B. Cook Medal

Matt Davies, a robust, dashing defender, emerged in 2015 as a glowing example that perseverance is a wonderful virtue.

His wholehearted commitment, skill, fearless pursuit of the ball and determination to beat his opponent earned him the ultimate accolade as the winner of the prestigious E. B. Cook Medal as Claremont’s fairest and best league player this year.

In an exciting count, the lead changed hands several times before Davies and full-back Brandon Franz were locked together on 322 votes with only the votes in the side’s final match, the elimination final against East Perth, to be counted.

Davies had performed strongly, with five marks, 17 kicks, 11 handpasses, seven tackles and two inside 50s in this contest and Franz excelled at full-back where he outplayed the AFL-listed Tom Lamb.

Franz received 16 votes and Davies 21 out of a possible 25 to finish with 343 votes to win the medal by five votes from Franz, with dominant midfielder Corey Yeo third with a tally of 321 votes. They were followed by Tom Ledger, Ryan Neates, Oliver Tate, Ian Richardson, Keifer Yu, Ryan Lim and Jack Bradshaw.

“I was quite nervous coming into the night,” Davies admitted. “A few people were saying that maybe I was a chance. But I thought maybe I’d finish in the top five. I thought that Ryan Neates and Corey Yeo were the top contenders. The count was tense and I was very happily surprised to win.”

The win gave Davies a splendid 24^th birthday present (celebrated earlier in the week) and it is significant that there were only two players in the top ten who are older than 24 --- 30-year-old Franz and Richardson, who turned 28 two days before the count.

Perseverance is a steadfast pursuit of an aim and it was the constant persistence of Davies in maintaining a purpose in his sporting life in spite of difficulties or obstacles and a goal to perform at his best at the highest possible level that has taken the powerful left-footer to his lofty status at Claremont.

Last January he was laid low when he suffered ligament damage to his right knee and had to undergo surgery which set back his pre-season preparation by more than a month. This was the third time he had an operation to cure problems in this troublesome knee. A lesser person would have been sorely tempted to quit the game.

But not Davies. With constant care from club physiotherapist Anthony McEvoy and encouragement from coach Michael Broadbridge he recovered in time to take the field in Claremont’s first-round match and he went on to play in all the side’s 21 matches.

Davies is renowned for his perseverance. He started with the Claremont colts as a 16-year-old in 2008 and then played colts and reserves football for the next two seasons before being a regular performer in the reserves side in 2011 and 2012 (when the Tigers won the league premiership both years).

He did not give up. He made his senior debut in a Foxtel Cup match against Mount Gravatt in Queensland in mid-2012 and finally made his first appearance in league ranks in the first round of fixtures in 2013. This came after 38 reserves matches, and since then he has been a fixture in the league side.

His message to young footballers is simple. “Persistence is necessary at such a great club,” he explained. “You cannot expect to just walk into the league side. If you keep working at it, you’ll definitely get your opportunity.”

Davies made a strong impression in his first season of league football. He was named as Claremont’s best first-year player and finished sixth in the fairest-and-best count. He also was second to East Fremantle’s Ryan Lester-Smith in the WAFL Rising Star award.

This year Davies became the first defender to win the Cook Medal since Greg Harding won the award from Jason Norrish, 184 votes to 182, in 2003. And Davies joins a list of many great defenders who have won the fairest-and-best award at Claremont, most notably Sandover medallists Keith Hough and Sammy Clarke, Bill O’Neill, Ken Caporn, John Lewis and Rob Melville.

Davies paid a special tribute to Franz, saying: “Brandon had an outstanding season and I think that my year is a reflection on his. He brings the ball to the ground a lot and I manage to get to his feet and get the ball out of the backline. He has helped to develop me as a footballer. We played reserves together and he has always instilled confidence in me to play my natural game and to believe in myself. He’s been a massive influence.”

Davies hasn’t always been a defender. In his teenage days he played as a forward and in the midfield. His football journey started at 13 as a member of a Scarborough under-age side and he retains fond memories of playing with Nick Winmar.

Then he was a member of Claremont’s development squads for three seasons and he represented Western Australia at the national under-16 carnival on the Gold Coast in Queensland when WA finished second to the Victorian country side.

In 2009 Davies was captain of the Claremont colts side which came from eight points behind at half-time to crush Peel Thunder by 67 points in a memorable contest under lights at Subiaco Oval. Davies lined up on a wing and was a strong contributor in a side which boasted such outstanding players as Ryan Neates, Nat Fyfe, Travis Colyer, Aaron Holt, Lewis Broome, Keifer Yu, Gerrick Weedon and Jordan McAllister.

Davies went on to play in premiership sides in the reserves competition in 2011 and 2012 to add to the 2009 colts flag.

“So now I’m chasing that elusive league premiership,” he says. “It’s driving me, particularly having been in the reserves side when we won the league premiership in 2011 and 2012.

“Things are looking pretty good in the early stages of pre-season training. The main aim is to get captain Jake Murphy fit and if we can get a full season out of him anything could happen. He’s such a great leader.

“We need more consistency; we probably under-performed this year with the talented squad we had. So this year we need to make a much better start. We can’t afford to start the season zero and five again.”