Essendon excitment machine, Alwyn Davey, is the 2007 AFL Army Award winner.

The 23-year-old midfielder was presented with the inaugural AFL Army Award Medal by the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy at the 2007 Coca-Cola All-Australian Dinner held at the Melbourne Museum last night.
 
He will receive a travel voucher and a $10,000 Army experience.

Alwyn received 21 per cent of the public votes which was endorsed by the All-Australian committee comprising Andrew Demetriou (chairman), Adrian Anderson, Rod Austin, Kevin Bartlett, Mark Bickley, Gerard Healy, Chris Mainwaring and Robert Walls.

The young Bomber secured three of the final six nominations which were shortlisted from the 22 weekly winning acts by the All-Australian committee. It was his Round Six nomination where he applied a brilliant diving smother to back it up with second and third efforts against Hawthorn that secured him the award.

Alwyn was recruited to Essendon as a 22-year-old with selection 36 in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft.
 
As the younger brother of Melbourne’s livewire Aaron Davey the Bombers hoped his addition would add speed throughout their midfield. Alywn didn’t disappoint and was a large contributor to the club’s much improved season, playing 14 games in his first AFL season and tallying 152 disposals.

Upon winning the award Alwyn expressed the pride in being named the first AFL Army Award winner.

""It was pleasing to win the award. It's an honour to be the first player to win the Army Award,"" Davey said

Alwyn also thanked the Essendon Football Club for giving him a chance to play football at the highest level.

""I thought I was too old to get drafted and I tried to get drafted at 17 and 18, but it didn't work out but I just kept working hard"" he said.

The AFL Army Award was introduced for the 2007 season to recognise match day acts which demonstrated courage, initiative and teamwork. The award aims to reward acts such as game breaking smothers, tackles and shepherds.