AARON Davey will finish his career with Melbourne having played 20 of 22 matches in 2013. It will be the fifth time he has played 20 matches or more in a season, and the first time he has done so since 2010.

That’s a fine result, given he made just 19 appearances in 2011-12, when injuries plagued his two seasons.

Davey’s ability to fight back, produce some good football in a trying season and play an important role – most recently as a substitute – in a developing team showed genuine character. 

On Sunday night, it will draw to a close – at least with the Melbourne Football Club – when he finishes on 179 AFL matches.

Instead of being a sad occasion, Davey said he wants his last match to be a celebration, although he concedes it will be a tough, emotional day.  

“I’m not sure how I’m going to handle it all. I’m just going to enjoy it for what it is, but I don’t reckon I’ll be able to control how I’m feeling. I’m still trying to get my head around it all, but it’s going to be good,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“You have times when you sit down on your own and it starts sinking in,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“I’ve been able to sit back and reflect and when I do look back on what I’ve been able to achieve over my 10 years – after starting as a skinny rookie … It’s all come together.

“Last week was a bit of a tough week for myself and my family, but it was good to be able to get out and play on AAMI Stadium and play with the boys for the second last time.”

Given he originally came from Darwin, then dazzled the VFL with Port Melbourne before gaining an opportunity via the rookie list, Davey’s story is an outstanding one and should be commended – and remembered – as much for his early years as his tenacity to the end. 

In between, Davey became the first Indigenous player to win Melbourne’s best and fairest in 2009. He also came third in the club best and fairest in 2005, when the Demons made the finals, but lost to Geelong in the second elimination final.

In his first AFL season, he finished second to former teammate Jared Rivers in the 2004 NAB AFL Rising Star award.

Davey also represented Australia against Ireland in the 2005-06 International Rules series, and will surely be in the mix for this year’s All-Indigenous team set to take on the Irish.

In 2011, Davey was also a joint vice-captain to Brad Green.

But Davey could be best remembered for the fact that he became somewhat of a revelation in the competition, when he made his AFL debut against Hawthorn in round one, 2004, after starting the year on the rookie list.

He was drafted at a time when small forwards were hardly at the top of recruiters’ lists. But his magic reignited a position on the ground that in many respects paved the way for the likes of the brilliant Cyril Rioli in the modern era.

“It was somewhere where I thought I could impact the game, and it gave me the best opportunity to play an AFL game,” he said.

“To think that 178 games later there are a lot of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island blokes playing a similar role – and mastering it – that’s great to sit back and think about that.

“We haven’t had that success recently, so it’s easy to forget the early days of my career, but there have been some great supporters throughout the good times and bad times. That’s what I’ll remember.”

Reflecting on some of the people who had helped him along his journey, Davey gave a special mention to former teammate Matthew Whelan – the first Indigenous player to achieve 150 matches with Melbourne.

“He’s one of those blokes you can’t really describe. He’s all about getting the job done, but he’s one of the nicest, caring blokes I’ve ever met,” he said.

“He’ll do anything for his mates and he’s been able to do that for me along the way. Wheels has helped me become the person I am. What he did for me, I’ve been able to roll onto Nev [Jetta].

“I’ve had this great opportunity to play with some of the brothers like Aussie [Wonaeamirri], LJ [Liam Jurrah], Byron Pickett, Shannon Motlop, Jamie Bennell and more recently D-Rod (David Rodan), so it’s been good.”

As for his immediate future, Davey said a break beckons in September.  

“I’m just going to relax. I’m not sure what I’m going to do straight away,” he said.

“I’ve got a few options that could open up for life after footy, but at the moment I’ll just sit back and spend some time with my family.

“I’ve been away from Darwin for 10 years and whenever I speak to young people, I’ve always talked about how you have to make sacrifices. Those are your family and friends.”

But as he prepares for 4.40pm this Sunday, when the Demons take on the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, Davey says he’s treating his final week with the club as a celebration of his outstanding career.

He will have a plenty of family, friends and supporters cheering him on for one last time. His family and best mate are travelling from the Northern Territory to see his final match.

“Hopefully we can get a win, because it’s been a tough couple of years and we’ve been kicked while we’re down,” Davey said.

“I’ll try and enjoy the next few days as best as possible.

“I hope the supporters come along and make it a good evening, where we can say ‘this is the beginning of the success we’re going to get at the Melbourne Football Club’.”