The Davis brothers: Brent, Matthew and Leigh. Picture: CONTRIBUTED
By ADEM SARICAOGLU
ALBION’S Davis brothers had done it all with the Cats.
Leigh, Matthew and Brent Davis were all premiership players and each had played 300 games in their time, yet remarkably, it wasn’t until last month the three of them got to play in the same game.
On separate occasions two of the three have played consistent footy together, including the back-to-back grand final appearances of 2010 and 2011, where Matthew and Brent both played.
Eldest brother Leigh, 34, had retired from the game in 2009, but has since filled in for the reserves when injuries have taken their toll.
Stuck on 299 games, Leigh filled in for the reserves in round 15 this year to notch up his 300.
A week later, however, a more significant surprise came his way.
Leigh turned up to Grant Reserve in Altona to watch his brothers play in the ones, but once again, injuries and late withdrawals struck the Cats hard.
At the last minute Leigh was asked to again fill in, and he obliged, marking the first-ever occasion the three brothers took the field together.
“It was a bit of a laugh at the start because there were a few injuries and the players were well-short. That was the only reason why I played,” Leigh said.
“But it was good just to run out there with the two of them and my little boy, who’s three, he was there watching as well.”
“I never thought it would happen, to tell the truth,” younger brother Matthew, 30, said.
“To have the experience of playing with all my brothers was something we always spoke about but hadn’t done, and then we finally had the opportunity to do it.”
Matthew got to the 300-game milestone in 2011, as did the youngest Davis brother, Brent.
“It was interesting because we never thought it was going to happen and it just happened by chance,” Brent, 27, said.
“But it was enjoyable to be out there once we all got around each other. It was a good day.”
Albion is currently looking for coaches ranging from the reserves all the way down to under-10s. If interested, please contact the club.
