The 19-year-old did feel slightly behind the eight ball compared to his teammates and regarded last season as an apprenticeship year, wanting to learn as much as he could about AFL ranks. ""I really wanted to knuckle down over the pre-season and catch up to the senior level,"" said Davies. Davies is renowned for his speed and aerobic capacity, however like most other first and second year players needs to improve his strength. “Basically strength work was a major part of my pre-season because it is such a physical game and you don't want to be the small guy - so I was working on that. I also did a lot of ball work but more game smarts - getting a better knowledge of the game, studying videos and going out at training sessions and simulating some of the things you might do in a game. I am lucky that at Essendon we have all of the facilities and people wanting to help,” Davies said.
Davies has been playing the majority of his football at half-back this season. ""I didn't really play backline football all that much in my junior football days. It is a real experience and great because the game is in front of you and you can rebound the ball and all of that kind of stuff and I am starting to really enjoy it,"" Davies said. One of his major goals was to play all of the pre-season games and also a senior game. Davies reset his goals after playing his first senior game against Port Adelaide in Round 11. ""I achieved one of my goals by playing a senior game - the rest of my goals is to go on and play as many games as I can and if I am not getting selected for the seniors, to play well for the team in the VFL. I want to keep on moving forward and improve my performance.""
Davies confidence has grown after having a year under his belt at the club and he feels more at home at Windy Hill in his second season. ""You are more comfortable around the club and you don't feel like you are going to put a foot wrong all the time because you know how things work and what is expected of you at training and in meetings and outside of the club,"" Davies said. Davies also found adjusting to AFL football a lot easier with the help of fellow 2000 draftees - Sam Hunt, Marc Bullen, Ted Richards and Jordan Bannister. ""We hang out together pretty much all of the time. Last year we always trained together because we were in the development group. This year we have been split up a bit more but we still spend a huge amount of time together,"" Davies said.
What Floody says:
James Davies has improved this year - he has great pace and he kicks the ball pretty well on his left and right foot. His decision making in the air has improved - when to spoil and when to mark - and he has gained in confidence. He is a little bit like Sam Hunt - he just needs to get more experience. He only played 10 games of school footy in 2000, so his development will take a bit longer. Hopefully towards the end of this year and in 2003 he will make some big in roads into playing senior footy. He needs to keep his pace up and also improve his strength. He had the flu a couple of weeks ago and probably lost four kilograms, so that took him back. He is on the right track.
