Vale Barry Davis

[s'dreams]

Former Essendon (and North Melbourne) captain and Essendon Coach Barry Davis, died today at the age of 80.

He was a double premiership winner at Essendon (1962 and 1965) and captained North to its first ever premiership in 1975 under Ron Barassi.

He captained Essendon for 38 games (1971-72), was a triple Crichton Medallist (1968, 69 and 71) and was senior coach from 1978-1980 for 30-win, 36-loss and 1-draw record. He resigned after failing to make the 1980 finals and was replaced by Kevin Sheedy.

He wound up being a prolific ruck-rover and was one of my heroes when I first started following the club.

Vale Barry!

[billyduckworth]

One of my boyhood heroes. My first couple of seasons going to games (1970 and 1971) we were pretty hopeless overall, but Davis was a star.

He was captain for those two years (not 1972, which is when Tuddy arrived).

[s'dreams]

One of my boyhood heroes. My first couple of seasons going to games (1970 and 1971) we were pretty hopeless overall, but Davis was a star.

He was captain for those two years (not 1972, which is when Tuddy arrived).

You are correct.

Tuddy arriving and taking the captaincy in 1972 and his disgust over the treatment of John Birt who was unceremoniously pushed out for Tuddenham to coach, led to him taking the leap to North Melbourne.

[BenDoolan]

An absolute club great.

I was way too young to remember him as a player, but remember him as coach. Remember the day the Windy Hill mob booed him when we were copping an absolute hiding from Fitzroy around 1979. It was pretty bloody bad.

He made a promise that if we didn’t make finals in 1980, he’d step aside. True to his word.

RIP Barry

BARRY DAVIS
No. 32
Games: 218 + 71 (with NMFC)
Goals: 65 + 54 (with NMFC)
Premierships: 1962, 1965 + 1975 (with NMFC)
Champions of Essendon: 15th
EFC Team of the Century: Half Back Flank
NMFC Team of the Century: Interchange
Best & Fairests: 1968, 1969, 1971 + 1973, 1975 (with NMFC)
Brownlow: 1969 Runner Up, 1971 Runner Up
Captain: 1970, 1971 + 1973, 1974, 1975 (with NMFC)
Most Disposals in a Game: 43 + 2 goals v Footscray 1969
Best Goal Performance: 5 + 30 disposals v Collingwood 1969

[F111]

I remember Watson as a 15yo getting the #32. "He'd better be a good player, he's got a lot to live up to!"

[BenDoolan]

I remember Watson as a 15yo getting the #32. "He'd better be a good player, he's got a lot to live up to!"

Is that what you said?

I said something similar about Terry Daniher. The day he retired, I said to my mate… “it’ll be a very long time before we see someone wear the No.5 with such distinction”.

[rockhole]

The half backline of Davis, Shelton and Epis was as good as it gets.

A truly superb, fair player who was immensely talented.

One of the best exponent of the drop kick you would ever wish to see.

Extremely sad that he has passed.

[grassy1]

Missed out on watching Barry playing at all,just saw Highlights including getting Kevin Smith to ping Tucky for 15,for continually holding.Top work there,Barry.

From what I read on Barry,Absolute Champion Player who played in 5 Grand Finals for 3 Flags,unlucky not to have a 4 from '68.Coached a side on the Rise,still learning the ropes and may well himself got them to a few Flags!

But he was too good a man to walk away from his Declaration and handed in the keys,for Sheedy to finish off his work.Should have received Offers elsewhere to continue to Coaching Career elsewhere,but didn't get a Senior gig elsewhere,unfortunately!

A Champion and Legend of The Game,at Essendon and North Melbourne.Barry,you made me Cry in your reflections of North's 1st Flag,but in a good way.

Rest In Peace Barry!

[F111]

I remember Watson as a 15yo getting the #32. "He'd better be a good player, he's got a lot to live up to!"

Is that what you said?

I said something similar about Terry Daniher. The day he retired, I said to my mate… “it’ll be a very long time before we see someone wear the No.5 with such distinction”.

Haha...yes, I remember it well. I was in uni. Who was this 15yo wunderkid? I rode my bicycle to Vic Park to watch a game hoping he was playing. He wasn't.

[s'dreams]

I remember Watson as a 15yo getting the #32. "He'd better be a good player, he's got a lot to live up to!"

Is that what you said?

I said something similar about Terry Daniher. The day he retired, I said to my mate… “it’ll be a very long time before we see someone wear the No.5 with such distinction”.

Haha...yes, I remember it well. I was in uni. Who was this 15yo wunderkid? I rode my bicycle to Vic Park to watch a game hoping he was playing. He wasn't.

You rode your bicycle to Vic Park?

Very courageous!

Were the tyres still there after the game?

[grassy1]

I remember Watson as a 15yo getting the #32. "He'd better be a good player, he's got a lot to live up to!"

Is that what you said?

I said something similar about Terry Daniher. The day he retired, I said to my mate… “it’ll be a very long time before we see someone wear the No.5 with such distinction”.

Haha...yes, I remember it well. I was in uni. Who was this 15yo wunderkid? I rode my bicycle to Vic Park to watch a game hoping he was playing. He wasn't.

You rode your bicycle to Vic Park?

Very courageous!

Were the tyres still there after the game?

Or bike and lock.

[rockhole]

I remember Watson as a 15yo getting the #32. "He'd better be a good player, he's got a lot to live up to!"

Is that what you said?

I said something similar about Terry Daniher. The day he retired, I said to my mate… “it’ll be a very long time before we see someone wear the No.5 with such distinction”.

Haha...yes, I remember it well. I was in uni. Who was this 15yo wunderkid? I rode my bicycle to Vic Park to watch a game hoping he was playing. He wasn't.

You rode your bicycle to Vic Park?

Very courageous!

Were the tyres still there after the game?

WHAT ABOUT THE WHEELS!!!

[F111]

It wasn't the sort of bike anyone would steal.

[Windy Hille]

A wonderful Essendon man who has gone to the big Hangar in the sky.

A fantastic player, and even better bloke.

Barry Davis along with Daryl Gerlach, Don McKenzie, Geoff Gosper and Geoff Pryor went on strike in 1970 for better pay and conditions for VFL players. I believe the establishment of VFLPA was as a result of this.

Salute 🫡