Farewell Leon Davis

[Avatar]

Thanks for the memories Leon, this farewell is not what I and many supporters wanted, going to be very different not seeing him in the no.1 for us next year.

Thanks for the info Pricey, take your word for that. We'll probably never hear it from the man himself, and his manager's obviously got his reasons for not clearing this all up.

 

[Primetime Pricey]

Thanks for the memories Leon, this farewell is not what I and many supporters wanted, going to be very different not seeing him in the no.1 for us next year.

Thanks for the info Pricey, take your word for that. We'll probably never hear it from the man himself, and his manager's obviously got his reasons for not clearing this all up.

Yep. Im sure at some stage he will come out with all of what i said

 

[Ed D]

It's a sad way to go out but it wasn't that unexpected. I'm just glad he left on a great season and played well to the end. I'm still a little surprised no other club was interested but that was the risk of delisting yourself at the age of 30 and having demands. Hopefully it sends a positive message to the other players at the club that they're lucky to be signed on whatever they have.

 

[Collingwood 4 eternity]

Leon Davis signs with Perth Demons

Perth are thrilled to announce they have finalised one of the club’s biggest recruiting moves in recent years by signing former Perth league player and Magpies star Leon Davis.

*

The signing of the lightning quick exciting 30 year old is seen as a huge bonus for the club with several rival WAFL clubs also in hot pursuit of his services. Davis, who is originally from Northam played a total of 10 league matches for the Demons during the 1999 season.

http://www.perthdemons.com.au/news/leon-davis/

 

[Baltimore Jack]

Jeez you talk shit. Whoever gave you that info is also talking shit.

Wasn't a financial decision at all

Thank you, I was getting totally disillusioned until you put some balance into the mob-trashing of Leon.

I always find it amazing how internet innuendo, half truths and wild speculation builds on itself and magically morphs into cast iron rock solid truth.

 

[Swooop]

Jeez you talk shit. Whoever gave you that info is also talking shit.

Wasn't a financial decision at all

With respect Primetime, I'm not sure you'd really know yourself.

I know from your later post you talked to his mate who said it was family.

I'd suggest to you that that's what they'd say either way.

Talking about money and wages is a little crass in general and usually people will often justify decisions, that were often made on monetary grounds, with other more altruistic reasons.

eg family, opportunity, lifestyle, a deeper challenge etc.

Do you not think it strange that he's been away from his family ten years or more, yet it's the year he gets a pay cut that he leaves?

I don't know why Leon left, but I think pride probably had a fair bit to do with it ( ie injured pride at being offered a pay cut)

Plus the lower money offered gave him less of an incentive to stay away from his family; and also there may have been an element of "Stuff you" directed at the Pies after his AA year juxtaposed to the pay cut.

Had he been offered $600K per year to stay, where do you think he'd be? With his family?

Also, you'll note I've disagreed with you without accusing you of talking shit btw.

 

[Ed D]

Leon has been wanting to be with his family for a long time. IIRC the club even had to fly his family over during his early days and get them to live in Melbourne to keep him. It's not something that just came up at the end of the season because he had a pay cut. At the start of the season he even talked about going home to WA if we won the GF, it's been on his mind for a while. He did state that he'd stay if the club paid him overs but that's not leaving for money, that's staying for money.

 

[Bloben]

I understand the desire to leave for family although I think he will regret it in a few years. I still think that if that was the sole reason though that he would have picked up the phone and explain his reasons like a man.

Thanks for the service neon but it was sad to see you leave this way.

 

[Quicky]

Thank you, I was getting totally disillusioned until you put some balance into the mob-trashing of Leon.

I always find it amazing how internet innuendo, half truths and wild speculation builds on itself and magically morphs into cast iron rock solid truth.

To be fair most of the posts so far have been fond reflections of Davis's time at the Pies.

It's sad to see him go. I would have found it sader to see him in another AFL teams colours. Just wouldn't seem right to me.

 

[Bay Pie]

What would be your reaction if your boss offered you a 30% pay cut after you received a worker of the month award?

If is was 1 to 2 years from retiring, many younger more promising workers had earnt pay rises and I failed when the big deals were on the line, I'd take the deal and retire in the comfort of known surroundings.

It's sad to see him go. I would have found it sader to see him in another AFL teams colours. Just wouldn't seem right to me.

This.

I've said it before, I think it went down something like this:

Leon goes home to WA and decides then his heart isn't really in returning to Collingwood. He decides for him to come back to Pieland, but the money has to be pretty good. If it's not, he'll just stay where he wants to live. Pies offer not as high as Leon wanted and Leons says "oh well" I'll just stay here or go to SA.

He's heart wasn't in it to return. Best outcome for our club rather then the risk of a reluctant player taking a decent pay check going through the motions for the year.

 

[damuzzdu]

Sad to see Leon go like this, but I blame Brian Taylor for shooting his stupid big mouth off and the terrible way Liam Pickering handled all this.

Leon might have been offered $100k less than his last contract, but based on 2010 season he could not really cry foul. Sure his 2011 season was outstanding, but at times he had not played his best football eg finals series.

He left 90% because of money and 10% because of family imo...

Well now he can play in WAFL and get probably get a +$200k pay cut...really Leon's decision was a knee jerk one, which I bet he will regret very much when Collingwood win 2012 Premiership.

Playing 1-2 or more years at Collingwood is hardly the end of the world....he would have paid pretty well but he thought be could make a stand one which has back-fired on him greatly.

 

[Smoky]

Fair amount of emotional responses in this thread that I opt to stay away from. I too had massive expectations for the man over his career... and THIS YEAR he showed the real potential of someone who could stamp his name in the History of our club... instead he etched it into our Club.

Anyone who wants to troll the idea he walked out on a reported $100,000 pay cut is absolutely dillussional

Collingwood, reborn favourite son, All Australian flying backman... offered 100k pay cut!

IMO he left cause he was nursed... not pushed through his career from Mick Malthouse. Buckley was Captain of our team when everyone repeatedly saw poor efforts from Leon... Year after year.

Make no mistake. Leon walked out on the Pies... vise versa never happened.

Neon wouldn't answer his phone to anyone from the club. he did not resign... ask to be drafted... retire... he disappeared after winning All Australian and being selected to represent our club in a Grand Final after history... He walked out... He quit... (he decided to NEARLY make it).

He has been going to go home to WA or SA for about 6 or 7 years... Instead he left after his best value season to the team ever - just like that.

I reckon it's cause he couldn't give his actual 100%. Buckley will demand that.

We all know deep down he never gave 100% of what he actually is capable of. We saw constant glimpses... of what that genius was capable of.

But instead achieved...

something


Buckley steps in - 100% takes over.





Much love and respect Neon for ever... Hope you truly smile to yourself in September 2012 when the Black and White fly to the ultimate again - and don't regret to yourself for ever.

 

[Rohan25]

Very sad for me to see him go, I loved watching Leon play. I thought after this year he could have been a 3-4 time AA player by the end of his career. Just a very sad end.

Best of luck Leon, and thanks for the memories. Number 50 on your list of most miraculous goals kicked would have been most players number 1.

 

[Ed D]

Sad to see Leon go like this, but I blame Brian Taylor for shooting his stupid big mouth off and the terrible way Liam Pickering handled all this.

Leon was in WA and out of contact, do you think BT saying a few things on radio in Melbourne really would have changed the way Leon was thinking? He wouldn't have been listening, and I really doubt what he said would have changed his negotiations with the club.

 

[ThanksRossy]

will miss you leon. one of my faves

 

[Primetime Pricey]

With respect Primetime, I'm not sure you'd really know yourself.

Talking about money and wages is a little crass in general and usually people will often justify decisions, that were often made on monetary grounds, with other more altruistic reasons.

eg family, opportunity, lifestyle, a deeper challenge etc.

Do you not think it strange that he's been away from his family ten years or more, yet it's the year he gets a pay cut that he leaves?


Had he been offered $600K per year to stay, where do you think he'd be? With his family?

Also, you'll note I've disagreed with you without accusing you of talking shit btw.

Well considering its one of his best mates i would take his word over others and this guy has never lied about Leon before and always told me stuff before it came out which turned out to be correct.
The last 5 years every year Leon has contemplated going home and couple times he had to be talked into coming back. You can look at the pay cut but you can also look at the fact he is now over 30 and has a young family and wants to go back home.
In regards to my remark about talking shit, well that guy has been slaying Leon verbally for the past 2 months and his "facts" have been so far off the mark its not funny so im sorry but ive had enough of it.

 

[DaVe86]

regardless of the circumstances, it is a terribly sad way for him to end his career. I do not know his reasons for walking out, but i am sad because he was brilliant this year and could've been again next year.


Ultimately, he was AA this year, and will be nothing next.

Would've been great if he could've hung in there for 1 more year and be sent off properly. We'll be a lesser side without him, but I am dissapointed in him for leaving whatever his circumstances are.

Selfishly though, I am glad no one picked him up because he would've been a huge asset for a team like West Coast.

 

[ksardog]

one wonders if leon had his time again knowing what has happened would he of left. i dont think he would of, 2 more years at collingwood at 200k a year would of been a nice little nest egg for his family. now he is bringing in 50k a year at a wafl club.
i really wonder how this will affect andrew krakour this year and the next negotiations on a contract. guess the ground work has already been set by his managers ridiculous claims at the start of the year. im sure he will leave at the end of next year to.

 

[Krueger]

It's dissapointing he is being portrayed as someone who has walked out on the club for being asked to take a pay cut when it has never been about that. He has tried to leave on many occasions but then changed his mind because of loyalty to the club and now he wants to settle down with his young family back home in WA or in SA with his mrs family and friends.

Lol you will believe anything you hear. If it wasnt about money why didnt he tell the club personally or answer any of the calls from Bucks or Walsh?

Its obvious he was bitter about the financial side of things and spat the dummy.

 

[Sloth]

What a crap way to end a career...he should have waited one or two years before he "went home"

 

[MarkT2]

If BT said Leon was insulted by his pay offer - and I heard him say that on 3AW - then I believe it to be true. BT was a mate and a strong supporter.

IMO the offer, if as reported, was about right for a 30 year old that, as Morgoth mentied, has not strung 2 seasons together and has not performed when it mattered most. He can play but he's ben over paid for his carfeer output and balancing what he might give us going forward something in the $250k to $300k range is fair enough.

I suspect Leon has also been poorly managed. I wonder if his manager was also being sent a message about blackmailing the club. There is a fair bit on the line in upcoming contract talks.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Meh blaming the manager is a copout. Leon has nobody to blame but himself.

If he wasn't "insulted" in the first place he wouldn't have called his manager in for advice.

 

[jathanas]

Sad way to go.

He was my son's favorite Pie, and when he was on song, just brilliant.

Thanks for the memories Leon.

 

[Primetime Pricey]

Lol you will believe anything you hear. If it wasnt about money why didnt he tell the club personally or answer any of the calls from Bucks or Walsh?

Its obvious he was bitter about the financial side of things and spat the dummy.

He did tell the club to trade him in trade week. I will believe people who are close to him then what is rumoured by others

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

He did tell the club to trade him in trade week. I will believe people who are close to him then what is rumoured by others

To only four clubs, two of which don't need him and none of whom were interested at 300 k or anywhere near it. It was hardly throwing himself on the open market.