Bob Davis

Robert "Bob" Davis (12 June 1928 – 16 May 2011) was an Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Early life

Bob Davis was born in Clunes and as a teenager he boarded and attended at Ballarat College. A keen South Melbourne supporter he attended a preseason training with the club but was told his services would not be necessary. He returned to Ballarat and played locally with Golden Point. He was spotted by Geelong recruiters and he was invited to try out with Geelong.

VFL career Nicknamed "Woofa", Davis was recruited from Golden Point in the Ballarat Football League and played with the Geelong Football Club in the VFL from 1948 to 1958, He made the state side for the first time in 1949.

At 183 cm (6 feet) in height, Davis was noted for his pace and tenacity. He was one of the fastest players in the League at the time, and was known in the press as "The Geelong Flyer", named after the express train that ran from Melbourne to Geelong in only 55 minutes.

Davis represented Victoria on 13 occasions, which included coaching Geelong to the VFL premiership in 1963, defeating Hawthorn. he returned to Geelong in time for the sixth game of the season, and he remained there for the remainder of his career.

Post-playing career During his career, Davis was a popular character off the field, with his much-imitated flamboyant voice – in particular the phrase "fair dinkum unbelievable", which has been imitated many times in the football world, usually with humorous but respectful intent. He appeared on many television shows in the 1970s and '80s, including World of Sport and League Teams with Lou Richards and Jack Dyer.

He died in hospital on 16 May 2011 after a long battle with illness in his last months. Before the Carlton–Geelong game later that week, they held a minute's silence.

Clunes Football Club Davis's original club scrapped their traditional Black and White for a one-off tribute game post his death. They donned Geelong-styled guernseys for one game, and they displayed both club's logos and the name Bob Davis on the back.