{xtypo_dropcap}T{/xtypo_dropcap}om Davis was the first Perth player to play in two premierships. Yet he almost quit the Demons before the first one, and unofficially retired the year before the second one.

The Pemberton recruit was finding it a bit different in the big smoke in 1954. Used to being a target of team mates in the then Warren Association, he had the feeling that he wasn't part of the cliqué at Perth. “I was running around in circles at the WACA, working my guts off, and no bugger was kicking the ball my way,” he laughed. “I went in the rooms one night after training and said to committeeman, Bill Fitzgerald, “You can stick this footy club, I'm off home with my mates.”{xtypo_quote_left}Yet he almost quit the Demons before the first one, and unofficially retired the year before the second one.{/xtypo_quote_left}

“Bill said, “stay with it, mate, things will change, mark my words.” Next training night, every bugger shot the bloody ball out to me every time they got it, I was flat out like a lizard drinking.”

With one game left of the 1965 season, and Davis one short of becoming a two hundred gamer, coach Ern Henfry dropped him for the last game of the year. “That's it, I said to Ern, put me down as a one hundred and ninety nine game player, because I'm finished,” Tom recalled. “Henfry, who I had a lot of time for as a coach, but wasn't happy about the decision, told me not to worry about it, I'd be back, but I was adamant.”

One of my greatest rivals, “Blue” Foley, got onto me and said, “Tommy,don't be too hasty, you'll never get the chance to play two hundred again if you quit.” I thought about that, and when Henfry was replaced by Mal Atwell, I fronted Mal. “Mal, I said, give it to me straight, I don't want to go through a tough pre season at the age of thirty two just to play ressies, if you don't reckon I'm a chance, let me know.” Mal assured me that if I was fit enough, I'd be in, so I trained my backside off, up the sandhills of Lancelin, all over the place.”

{xtypo_quote}I was running around in circles at the WACA, working my guts off, and no bugger was kicking the ball my way,” he laughed. “I went in the rooms one night after training and said to committeeman, Bill Fitzgerald, “You can stick this footy club, I'm off home with my mates.{/xtypo_quote}

Davis played in his second Perth premiership in 1966.

A hard working, tough left footer, Tommy Davis was a high leaping ruckman with good foot skills who marked well around the ground. Invited to Perth by Jack O'Dea on the recommendation of Pemberton identity Wally Adams, he played 220 games with the Demons, making his league debut in 1955, changing in a forward pocket with Merv McIntosh.

Davis firmly established himself as part of a formidable ruck partnership with McIntosh in 1955, being picked for Western Australia in that year, the first of four appearances in the black and gold guernsey, an achievement in itself, considering the ruck talent that abounded in his era, with at different times, Farmer, Clarke, McIntosh, Kelly, O'Connell, Percy Johnson, Skehan, Slater, Foley, Porter, Sumich, and Dethridge, among others, all in State colours in the late fifties.

He firmly established himself as a favourite son of the Demons in the 1955 grand final, when his goal with seven minutes remaining put them in front for their first flag since 1907. Taking over the ruck mantle of McIntosh for Perth in 1956, he was selected in the Western Australian side for the Australian Football Carnival of that year, playing in two winning games, against South Australia and the VFA.

Tom suffered some debilitating injuries during his career, among them being lacerated kidneys and three dislocated shoulders, but was a leader with Perth for a decade, and was runner up to Bob Coleman for the club's fairest and best award in 1961. A bus driver with the Railways during the latter stages of his career, he was often unable to train with Perth, and would join in with local football clubs at places like Narrogin and Miling.

Tom retired after the winning 1966 grand final, resisting overtures from country clubs to play on.

These days he is enjoying retirement at Mandurah, playing social bowls and putting his and wife Ruth's caravan to plenty of good use, while spending as much time as possible with his two boys and a girl, eight grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Son Steven played thirds with Perth and was showing promise until his employment in the hospitality industry took precedence, finally being forced out of the game with a broken knee at Esperance, while both boys represented Western Australia at baseball as juniors.

He regarded Jack Clarke(East Fremantle), Polly Farmer(East Perth), Brian Foley(West Perth), Keith Slater(Swan Districts and Subiaco), and Swans' Fred Castledine as his toughest opponents, while sticking with the team of fifty five for best he played with.

Tommy Davis was a ruckman who was perhaps overshadowed by some of the big name ruckmen around during his decade in the game, but he can look back on a wonderful career with pride, and his life membership of the Perth Football Club and the Western Australian Football League is a just reward.