WAFL midfielder Morgan Davies joins Albany Sharks in transfer shock after ‘getting a bit sick of the politics’

East Fremantle midfielder Morgan Davies has signed with the Albany Sharks in the Great Southern Football League in a shock final-day transfer after becoming “sick of the politics” in the WAFL. A clearance was approved for Davies yesterday on the last day for player transfers in WA, completing a huge mid-season signing for the Sharks and their finals aspirations in 2021. Davies walked away from WAFL club East Fremantle after a disagreement on his playing role in the league team. The 24-year-old has played 55 league matches in the WAFL, including six this season for the Sharks and has been named in their best players in the past three games. Davies was averaging 22 disposals, four marks and 5.3 tackles per game at league level this season. However he was being used as a lockdown tagger and believed he had more to give to the team. Albany Sharks coach Jamie Ramm and Davies are cousins and that was a key factor in his decision to finish the season in his hometown. “The move came about pretty quickly obviously with the June 30 date coming up on us and it was something I had been thinking about for a while,” Davies said. “I was getting a bit sick of the politics involved in the WAFL footy clubs and I felt I had a bit more to give and a bit more to offer and I wasn’t being utilised in the way I would have like. “Obviously with the June 30 date coming up I thought why not make that change now while I can rather than continue on the year in Perth and continue to be unhappy with the type of footy I was having to play.” Davies spent five seasons at Claremont before moving to East Fremantle in 2019 where he has been a regular in the Sharks’ league side. A junior players for Royals, he said he had plenty of respect for his club of origin but was this was a great opportunity to sign with the “up and coming” Sharks. “I was in chats with the (East Fremantle) coach and footy manager about where I saw myself playing and where I was best suited to play and where I was going to be playing in the future, and the only position they saw me playing was a lockdown tagger role every week,” Davies said. “I’m happy to do that once or twice but not every week. I feel like I have got more attributes to offer and I thought it was the best thing to part ways. “It’s something that has been going on for a fair while, not just recently, and with the deadline date coming up I had to make a choice pretty quickly and that’s what I did.” The Albany Sharks have won three games this season and sit one game clear in fourth spot. Davies said he was excited about the rest of the season. “I have watched a few of their games when I have been down and they play a really exciting brand and are on the up with a lot of exciting kids. The culture is really starting to come around which is good,” he said. “I haven’t met anyone down there but hopefully I will do that in the coming weeks and they welcome me with open arms.” Ramm confirmed Davies would play this Saturday against Mt Barker if the COVID-19 lockdown in the Perth and Peel regions is lifted. “It’s great for the club, it’s what the club has never really had is players like him and Brett (Peake) so it’s good for the young kids and I look forward to watching him play,” Ramm said. “I think he can bring leadership and he’s a good footballer and good person.”