IN A FEW ways, Alwyn Davey is the same player he was last year. He's quick and sharp, and able to influence games through his frantic tackling and smart goalkicking.

But, dig a little deeper, and the 28-year-old Bomber is a completely different player from the one who took the field beset by worry and broken confidence in 2011. Seven rounds into this year, it appears Davey has overcome those battles. 

Davey's troubles started early last season. He was playing well in the NAB Cup, and had put in a best on ground performance in Essendon's qualifying final win over Melbourne in the pre-season competition.

But very late in the game he left the field with a sore arm, and discovered the next day it was fractured. It was the third time in his career he had broken his arm, with his 2007 and 2010 seasons ended prematurely by the injury.

Although Davey returned just over a month later, he lacked his usual conviction. He was dropped twice before playing the last 11 games of the season, but his best form didn't reappear.

"I think last year I was probably too inconsistent with my performance," Davey told AFL.com.au.

"The injury made it worse and set me back heaps with my confidence, and I just wasn't enjoying my footy. My mind wasn't straight and I wasn't playing good footy.

"You worry about whether you're going to be playing the next week. So to have that in your mind isn't not a good feeling."

Davey admits the injury changed the way he played. Instead of attacking a contest at full speed intent on winning the ball, Davey says he was hesitant.

"Last year I probably wasn't going in as hard as I should have been," Davey said.

"I was worrying about my arm and thinking about if I was going to break it again. That was in my mind. And just to have that feeling in your mind isn't too good.

"In the NAB Cup I was playing really good footy and the coaches were happy, and then the injury set me back from playing good footy for the rest of the year."

Davey's honest assessment led to a pre-season of "knuckling down", which appears to be paying dividends early this season.

Since kicking one goal against the Gold Coast in round three - his first game of the year - Davey has booted three goals in each of the last four games. With 13 goals, he is on track to beat his previous career-high for a season (22 goals in 2010.)

He's improved his first touch, is cleaner below his knees, and is getting to the right spots in the forward line.

Most importantly for the Bombers, Davey's spark has returned. The smile is back on his face, the zip in his first few steps is there and he's teaming with Leroy Jetta to form one of the most dangerous small forward combinations in the league.

Davey's also converting his opportunities, and looks more comfortable taking his shots at goal. It's something he has been encouraged to do by James Hird and forwards coach Matthew Egan.

"We're always told to back ourselves," Davey says.

Things are good for Davey off the field, too. While he's concentrating on his footy, Davey is also progressing with his university study, completing his certificate four in education and support.

Before he was drafted in 2006 as a 22-year-old from Adelaide, Davey was an Aboriginal education worker, working closely with indigenous children. In time, he sees himself going back to that field. In his current form, that appears some way off.

Callum Twomey is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter at @AFL_CalTwomey.