Representing the Magpies? Not quite.
Bred in Williamstown, a long-time desire to play for the Seagulls came by default when he was rookie-listed by Collingwood in 2004.
Twelve games in three seasons at senior level meant Davies spent a lot of time in the VFL but there was compensation.
In 2007, he won Williamstown’s best and fairest award.
Naturally, Davies would have preferred more opportunities with the Magpies but it was his development with Williamstown that caught the attention of the Kangaroos’ recruiters.
“It was a good learning time for me because I tried to really work on stuff that was keeping me out of the seniors,” he said. “I think by the end of the year I had figured it all out. By then it was too late, the team had settled too much to really bring me in.
“That last half of the year with Williamstown really improved me as a player, so it wasn’t really a bad thing.
“They (the Roos) obviously drafted me from me playing at Williamstown. If you keep working on your weaknesses, you’re going to get a crack eventually.”
North sent pick 96 to Collingwood for Davies, a bargain by any stretch for a player familiar with the system and with some AFL experience.
He had made his debut for the Magpies against Fremantle in round seven, 2005, promoted to replace the injured Nathan Buckley, and from the outset had shown hard run and ability to find the ball.
Changing camps, he complemented existing Roos and has taken a fresh approach to the defensive midfield role.
“[My aim is to] just try to really get to know the culture of the place, trying to understand and get around blokes like Adam Simpson and Brent Harvey who have obviously been here for a very long time, and try to understand the way they want to play,” he said.
“I just want to play as much senior football as I can. I’ve got to work on a few things personally, but once I get through that then I think I could be a really good player for North.
“I’ve just got to keep taking my chances.”
He’s already had a taste, making his club debut against Geelong in round 11 and holding his place for the next game against Fremantle.
Unfortunately, the 22-year-old was omitted for last weekend’s clash with Hawthorn, but understands that more doors can be opened by performance in the VFL.
But he’s still getting used to representing Werribee through North Melbourne’s alignment.
“I’ve been in Williamstown all my life and I always wanted to play for Williamstown,” he said. “Pulling on the Werribee jumper for the first time was a bit strange, because I’d sort of grown up to hate Werribee … not hate, but [there’s] a good rivalry there.”
A large positive of the move to Werribee has been the rapport with coach Simon Atkins, who played 168 games with Footscray and Fitzroy.
“[Simon] is really good,” Davies said. “He has a chat with you about where you want to go with your football and really tries to put you in positions where you can play.”
As for the relationship with his teammates at North – that’s even better.
“It’s pretty easy to get along with people when you’ve got so much in common,” he said.
“The boys have been really good since I came down and made me feel part of it straight away.”
