Davis admits he let Malty down and was probably selfish

Nicholas · Joined: 06 Mar 2003 Location: Melbourne

Davis: I let Mick down
02 May 2003 Herald Sun
By NIKKI TUGWELL in Sydney

IT'S the feeling he let down Mick Malthouse which bugs Nick Davis most.

Awkward split: new Swan Nick Davis.

The fact he didn't thank him as he would have liked. That he never had the proper chance to say "goodbye, no hard feelings" to his Collingwood teammates, most of whom he'll see tomorrow night at Telstra Dome for the first time since his awkward split seven months ago.

"It was hard ... not just to leave Collingwood, but to leave Mick and feel that I've let him down for the three years that he spent working really hard with me," Davis said yesterday.

"Obviously I didn't get a chance to say 'goodbye' and say 'thank you' to the people down there who helped me, so that has been hard to take."

Davis and Malthouse were neighbours in Melbourne.

Davis was a second-round (No.23) draft pick in 1998, a savvy teenage forward whose dad Craig played for the Pies and Carlton. His godfather is Carlton great Alex Jesaulenko.

Malthouse would invite Davis over for dinner. Davis became a friend of the family, they'd chat about footy and life. Davis saw Malthouse as a father figure, someone he could turn to for guidance.

"Mick helped me out with my footy but also with day-to-day life and taught me what it was like to live a good life," the 23-year-old said.

"He lived about two minutes around the corner from me, so I was always running into him in the street walking his dogs.

"He also gave me a real chance with my footy and said last year 'even though you are not playing that well and we know you are injured, I like you and I think you are going to help the team, so I'm going to keep playing you'."

So when Davis dropped the bombshell days after the Grand Final defeat that he wanted to return to Sydney, the backlash was considerable.

Malthouse took a swipe at his character and Davis was warned to stay away from the Copeland Trophy dinner. Davis - like West Australians Des Headland and Daniel Chick, Victorian Kane Johnson and South Australian Byron Pickett - was homesick.

He yearned for his home state of NSW, the Sydney lifestyle and familiarity of his family and close friends.

"The club thought maybe some of the supporters might have got a bit upset (at the Copeland Trophy) and might have soured the evening. I'm not too sure," Davis said.

"It was hard to take. I was happy at Collingwood but I was happier to come back to Sydney. Unfortunately, I probably looked to be a little bit selfish."

For Davis, tomorrow night cannot come soon enough. "I'd be sort of disappointed if I couldn't get around to see most of the Collingwood guys," he said.

"Shake their hands and say good luck and thanks ... thanks for the last four years."

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WhyPhilWhy? · Posted: Fri May 02, 2003 9:20 am

Love the reporter's name....

TaZ_LuVs_EmIn3m · Posted: Fri May 02, 2003 4:04 pm

HAHAHAHA WhyPhilWhy lol

daicos4ever · Joined: 23 Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia

He can still get ****ed

Greg J · Posted: Fri May 02, 2003 5:35 pm

Actually, he said he "probably looked selfish" not that he was selfish.

CQ · ambitious that Joined: 25 Jul 2000 Location: melb

yeh who cares hes a tosser, just trying to attract attention to himself, as per usual.

d9 tank · Joined: 04 Oct 2002 Location: Victoria

Bit late Nick. I think he's using this as a last ditch effort for the boys not to go too hard at him.

Get Smart · Joined: 05 Dec 2001 Location: St George area, Sydney.

Get Stuffed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now don't censor my reply as I used the 'Cone of Silence'.
Sh!

JLC · Posted: Sat May 03, 2003 8:16 am

Yeah good suck up job before the game. How predictable is this guy ?? When he gets back to the comfort of Sydney he will go back to being a big mouth again.

jlc

magpie willow · Joined: 26 Sep 2002 Location: East Ivanhoe Melbourne

Silly little Nicky we all know your a fraud and an absolute joke we know your just sucking up ya little mongrel but its not gonna work tonight whether you like it or not the entire magpies army will booo you like anything everytime you touch or get near the ball and also if given the opportunity you will get you head smacked in by one of the Mighty loyal Collingwood players and I Hope you get whats coming to ya Nick!!!

joffa_the_man_in_gold · Joined: 13 Dec 2002 Location: melb

He wont want to hope to find any sort of comfort anywhere near the cheersquad i can tell you now, he walked out on the greatest club who bent over backwards to keep him here, he could of gone on to become a collingwood champion, his choice was to LEAVE collingwood for a second rate club which will never be anything in the AFL, this homesick crap is all it is 'CRAP' sydney is only one hour away by plane
I hope someone lines him up with a fair hip and shoulder and takes him out..dont forget he wasnt traded he wasnt dropped HE WALKED OUT !!

And the sad end to this tale will be that maybe in 20 years time he will sit back and wonder why ?
In good old collingwood lingo Mr Davis go and get yourself rooted!!

creedymagpie · Joined: 16 Nov 2002 Location: Berwick

Who cares after he and his team are taking to the cleaners tonight!

And JLC why have you got a photo of Don Beach from the Bill fot your Icon?

Whitey · Joined: 09 Jan 2002 Location: Melbourne

JLC · Posted: Sat May 03, 2003 4:23 pm

creedymagpie · Joined: 16 Nov 2002 Location: Berwick

Yeah agreed but i like June Akland, shes a hornbag!!!!