Playing Career
Rick Davies' senior career began with Sturt in 1970 at age 18. Davies was named as Sturt's best and fairest player in a record seven of the eight seasons he played for the Double Blues. One of Davies' most noteworthy performances was his dominant display in the 1976 Grand Final victory against Port Adelaide. Davies was judged best on ground on the day when the all-time SANFL record attendance was set with 66,897 attending the match at Football Park.
In 1981 Davies joined Hawthorn in the VFL. Changes to rules for rucking contests disadvantaged shorter ruckman, and Davies mostly played in the forward pocket, kicking 37 goals. He returned to Sturt in 1982 and was their leading goalkicker for the next three seasons, including a SANFL record 151 goals in 1983 (later beaten in 1990 by Scott Hodges of Port Adelaide who kicked 153), which included 11 goals in a 114-point win over Port Adelaide and a club record 15 against West Adelaide in round 8 at Football Park. Davies would play his last Grand Final for Sturt later in the 1983 season when the Double Blues went down to West Adelaide.
Davies moved to South Adelaide in 1985, and became playing coach later that season when former Hawthorn teammate Don Scott was sacked. The Panthers finished 8th in 1985 and 9th in 1986, with Davies leading goalkicker with 72 goals in each season from full forward. He retired in 1986, with a SANFL total of 350 league appearances and 781 goals over 16 seasons.
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