A FEW years ago, Jason Davenport inherited the nickname 'Eagle Killer' - a cheeky throwback to a couple of standout performances against West Coast, when the then Port Adelaide player twice earned the maximum three Brownlow votes for his troubles. 

Question is, does the 28-game former Port winger turned Carlton development coach still answer to the moniker?

“I smirk to it,” came the measured reply.

“A couple of my better games happened to be against them (the Eagles), but I’m someone who easily takes the nickname in the light manner for which it was intended. I embrace it with a smirk.”

Davenport’s League career ended with his delisting at Port after three seasons to the end of 2011. Originally taken by Geelong as a rookie in 2006, the boy who first chased the leather as a teenager for Ellinbank (“just out of Warragul where there’s no pub, no milk bar, no nothing”) had featured in the Cats’ all-conquering VFL premiership team of 2007, the same year he earned VFL Team of the Year honours.

Jason Davenport spent three seasons at Port Adelaide. (Photo: AFL Media)

He took plenty from that experience, Geelong having atoned for its grand final loss the previous year, for he was amongst “a pretty special group of players” – characters like Tom Hawkins, Tom Lonergan, Scott Thompson and Steven King (who completed the VFL/AFL premiership double that year) – and together they recently celebrated the 10^th anniversary of that triumph. 

On completing his stint at Port, Davenport returned to the Geelong district, where he played for and later accepted the challenge as coach of North Shore through the 2017 season. 

Then came the phonecall from Andrew McKay, which quickly led to a catch-up with the Carlton Head of Football and senior coach Brendon Bolton and the chance to talk footy.

“We sat down and spent some time bouncing ideas off each other and I got a feel for what they were potentially looking for and where I could potentially contribute. 

“From there it became more of a formal process and led to the opportunity that’s come about.”

Davenport joins Brent Stanton as one of two new development coaches at Ikon Park, and his brief is just as the job title suggests.

“With the average age of the list, they (Bolton and McKay) felt it appropriate and important to add some depth to the development side of things now headed up by Shane Watson,” Davenport explained. 

“That is why Brent and I have come on board, to contribute our particular crafts to help the continued development of those young players on the list . . . and it’s an exciting platform.”

To the question of whether he saw his role as a fast track of Blue youth, Davenport was somewhat circumspect.

“’Fast-tracking’ isn’t a term I’d align the role with, as sometimes players might not meet your expectations and others might exceed those expectations in terms of what they’re capable of,” Davenport said. 

“It’s more about making sure the resources are in place so that these players, who are eager and determined to develop, are supported.” 

Jason Davenport with fellow Carlton development coaches Brent Stanton, Josh Fraser and Shane Watson. (Photo: Carlton Media)

Considered a relative late-comer to the game, Davenport pursued interests as a sprinter and basketballer in his callow youth – elements of which he still draws upon when he thinks about the game of Australian Rules and the methodology at the elite level – like the awareness of time and space. 

And his philosophy towards the game at the elite level is refreshingly uncomplicated.

“Without going into too much detail, it’s all about balance in the sense there are multiple facets in your life, not just work (which in this case is football for these young guys) which contribute to performance,” Davenport said.

“It’s about making sure that the players find balance and feel well supported and stimulated away from the football club, which enables them to continue to have a passion for the game and wanting to learn . . . (and) as a former player now lucky enough to be involved as a coach, it’s about making sure you’re there as a resource for these young guys.”