Coach Inductee
Glenorchy/North Hobart/Tasmania U18, 1982-95 
COACHING CAREER
- Glenorchy coach, 1982-84 (67 Games: 54 wins, 13 losses)
- North Hobart coach, 1987-89 (60 Games: 45 wins, 15 losses)
- Tasmanian State coach, 1984-86 (9 Games: 6 wins, 3 losses)
- Tasmanian Teal Cup (U18) Coach 1985-86, 1992-95
- Glenorchy TANFL premiership coach, 1983
- North Hobart TFL Statewide League premiership coach 1987, 1989
- TFL State Coaching Director, 1985-86
- North Hobart Team of the Century (Assistant Coach)
- Geelong Football Manager, 1998-2006
- Belconnen (NEAFL) Football Manager, 2007-2010
- South Fremantle (WAFL) Football Manager, 2012-14
PLAYING CAREER
- 35 games, 78 goals for Devonport, 1970-71
- 30 games, 16 goals for Geelong, 1972-74
- 10 games, 9 goals for Richmond, 1978
- 89 games, 154 goals for Caulfield (VFA) 1976-77, 1979-81
- 60 games, 176 goals for Glenorchy, 1982-84
- Caulfield captain 1977, 1980-81
- Caulfield Best and Fairest 1977, 1979
- Glenorchy TANFL premiership 1983
- Devonport Leading Goalkicker 1971 (42)
- Glenorchy Leading Goalkicker 1983 (62), 1984 (63)
- Caulfield Leading Goalkicker 1980 (58)
- Two representative matches for Tasmania
- Five representative matches for VFA, 1977-81
- One representative match for NWFU
One of the most successful coaches in modern Tasmanian football, Garry Davidson enjoyed great success at club, state and underage levels, including collecting three premierships in six seasons as a coach in the TANFL/TFL in the 1980’s.
Born in 1954, Davidson’s football journey began on the north-west coast with Devonport, from where he was recruited by VFL club Geelong as an 18-year old in 1972. After 30 games in four seasons at Kardinia Park, Davidson joined Caulfield in the VFA in 1976. He would play 91 games in five seasons with the Bears, winning two Best and Fairests and VFA representative honours, his time at the club interrupted by a one-year return to the VFL in 1978 with Richmond which produced 10 games.
At the end of 1981 Davidson returned to Tasmania to embark on a coaching career, signing with Glenorchy. The Magpies had lost five consecutive Grand Finals from 1976-80, and Davidson’s tenure began in similar fashion, losing a tightly contested 1982 decider to New Norfolk by eight points. The following year Davidson led his charges to another Grand Final and this time the Magpies prevailed, turning the tables on New Norfolk with a 92-point hiding. Unfortunately the joy was short lived, as Glenorchy lost their seventh Grand Final in eight years in 1984, beaten by Clarence after finishing five games clear on top of the ladder. After three years and 54 wins from his 67 games in charge, Davidson resigned as Glenorchy coach after this loss, also announcing his retirement as a player after more than 200 games.
After spending 1985-86 as TFL Coaching Director as well as coach of Tasmania’s state and Teal Cup teams, Davidson was appointed senior coach of North Hobart ahead of the 1987 season. The Demons had not won a senior premiership since 1974, the longest premiership drought in the club’s history. Davidson’s arrival sparked the Demons back into premiership contention, and in his first season North Hobart claimed the TFL crown with a 52-point win over Glenorchy. After an early exit in 1988, the Demons were back on the big stage the following year, but when they faced a 29-point deficit at the first change against arch-rivals Hobart things looked bleak. Thankfully for the Demons, they were blessed with an innovative coach who was the master of motivation speeches. His quarter time rev-up worked wonders, with North Hobart kicking eight goals to three in the second term and 18 goals to 10 after ¼ time to run out 30-point winners. The triumph would be Davidson’s last match in charge of the Demons, as he departed after 60 games and two premierships. His impact in only three years was enough for him to be named as an Assistant Coach in North Hobart’s Team of the Century
After a couple of seasons away from the coach’s box, Davidson was appointed coach of the Tassie Mariners in the Teal Cup for the second time. Davidson had played a key role in the formation of the Tassie Mariners program as the first manager of the Tasmanian Football Development Foundation, and in his second stint as coach he guided the side to modest success at National Under 18’s level. Upon leaving the Mariners in 1995, Davidson spent eight years as a high-profile football manager of Geelong in the AFL, before performing the same role with Belconnen in the ACTAFL/NEAFL and South Fremantle in the WAFL.
