By Nicholas Creely
‘Flash’ is at the helm – with the Doveton Football Club signing former Melbourne star Aaron Davey as its senior coach for 2017.
It was just three weeks ago that Steve O’Brien shocked the South East Football Netball League by departing the club, but now Davey will take over the Doves in what is a major coup.
Davey, 33, better known as ‘Flash’, was best remembered as a smooth moving left-footed midfielder who amassed more than 150 games in a career spanning over a decade in the AFL.
Highly skilled and dangerous with ball in hand, Davey has built a solid reputation in the SEFNL with Doveton, and was chosen from three candidates by the club to lead them into a new era.
In 2009, Davey took out the coveted Keith Truscott Medal, as Melbourne’s Best and Fairest player, and from there battled with lingering injury issues that prevented him from continuing his form.
But he has since been impressive in a playing capacity for the Doves, and at just the age of 33, could be in for a long and fruitful coaching career that may eventually land him in the arms of an AFL club.
In further news at the Doves, Davey has managed to lure his brother, former Essendon forward Alwyn, to the club, in what is a powerful signing.
Retention hasn’t been an issue for the Doves, who recently re-signed Shannon Henwood and Russell Gabriel, along with Sam Raru, Jarrod Boumann and Matt Jamieson.
The Doves are already the toast of the town, and are now surely heading into the season with glowing expectations.
Doveton will also reel out some fresh faces in the coaches’ box for 2017, with Nathan Wilson taking charge of the U19s and Chris Rodriquez to lead the reserves team.
