It must have seemed like the proudest moment of George Davidson’s sporting career.

At age 27, he had been appointed captain of the South Melbourne Football Club, the team he had crossed to after first playing with Collingwood. He led the Southerners out for their first game against Essendon in the 1900 season but in the last quarter, with his team facing a heavy defeat, Davidson was caught in a tangle of players and broke his leg.

Sadly, he never played footy at the top level again. And his first game as South’s captain ended up being his last.

That was a cruel end to the career of the reliable defender, who was universally respected throughout the game.

He had come to Collingwood from the delightfully named Mission Ramblers in 1894. He played only 13 games across three seasons for the Magpies, spending time both forward and back before eventually finding himself most at home in defence. His 1895 season was interrupted when his father died, and the team wore black crepe armbands out of respect. Although he was part of the squad in 1896 was not part of the Premiership team on Grand Final day.

George had not become a household name at Collingwood. So it was not exactly huge news when he crossed to South in the newly-formed VFL in 1897. But once in the red-and-white he grew in both confidence and stature. He played 36 games across three seasons and became renowned as one of the steadiest and most reliable defenders in the game.

His rehabilitation as a footballer seemed complete when South appointed him captain, heading into the 1900 season – an appointment that was widely well received. But it all came crashing down when his leg gave way in that opening game.

The esteem in which Davidson was held was evident with the benefits that came his way after his injury. In September, South held a multi-club sports meeting, which was preceded by a fancy dress procession through the streets. The day and associated testimonial raised a huge amount of money, and in November George was presented with ‘a purse containing 80 sovereigns’.

A local State politician presented him with the purse and remarked that he “must have been a popular member of the club to have received the sympathy and practical recognition by the public and the members of various clubs in his time of need, and when incapacitated from following his ordinary avocation, and playing the game of football.”

It was no surprise that Collingwood also contributed generously to that testimonial. George Davidson might not have played too many games while at Victoria Park, but he made a grand impression wherever he went.