COLLINGWOOD midfielder/forward Leon Davis is almost certain to see out his career in Magpie colours after signing a new two-year contract with the club.
Davis, 28, who was drafted from Perth with pick 34 in the 1999 NAB AFL Draft, has played 177 games, more than any other indigenous player in Collingwood’s history.
His commitment comes after Collingwood signed skipper Nick Maxwell, Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan, Heath Shaw and Dale Thomas to new contracts.
And the exciting goalkicker is rapt to have extended his future at the Lexus Centre.
“I struggled early [in my career] with homesickness and stuff like that but the club was great to me,” Davis said before training on Wednesday morning.
“So in the end I just really wanted to stay at Collingwood and look after them like they did me.”
Davis’ new deal will keep him with the Magpies until the end of the 2011 season, by which time he will be 30.
The West Australian said he was unsure how much football he would have after that time but for now was focused on helping Collingwood achieve success.
“I’m just happy to be here for the next couple of years,” he said.
“I’ll just see how I feel [in a couple of years]. But I’m really happy at Collingwood, so we’ll see how we go.”
Davis, who finished fourth in the Magpies' Copeland Trophy voting last season, has been in career-best form in 2009.
This year he is averaging more than 22 disposals per match – something he attributes to a greater work ethic in recent years.
“It’s just the hard work paying off,” he said.
“I’ve tried to work hard, probably over the last three or four years, at training and do extra sessions.
“That’s just paying off and I’m able to run out games a lot stronger than what I used to.”
On top of his creativity through the midfield, Davis has booted 29 goals from 16 matches in 2009 at almost two per game.
Known for his remarkable feats near goal, Davis has booted some freakish goals this season – particularly in recent weeks.
He followed up two superb snaps against Carlton in round 17 with another gem against the Brisbane Lions in his side’s convincing win on Saturday night.
As for his favourite of the trio, the man himself does have a preference.
“Probably the one the other night [against Brisbane],” Davis said.
“It’s just fresh in my mind, so probably that one. It wasn’t too bad.”
