Though not tall for a ruckman at only 188 cm (6'2"), Davies was known for his strong marking and body strength which he used to great effect against opponents who were often taller and heavier than him.
Davies was judged best on ground on the day when the all-time SANFL record attendance was set when 66,897 fans crammed into Football Park.
Changes to rules for rucking contests disadvantaged shorter ruckman,[citation needed] and Davies mostly played in the forward pocket, kicking 37 goals.
Wilmott, who kicked 97 goals for the season in the SANFL Reserves (plus another two in a disappointing finals series), played only one game of league football in 1983 in Round 10 against Norwood at the Norwood Oval, kicking six goals in his league debut (while Davies was on state duty with the South Australian team in Perth).
After again leading Sturt’s goal kicking in 1984, Davies moved to South Adelaide in 1985, and became playing coach later that season when former Hawthorn teammate Don Scott was sacked.
[2] The Double Blues continued to struggle after Davies resigned, not recovering until after eight consecutive wooden spoons and a winless 1995 season.