David Edwards
The remarkable career of David Edwards commenced on 17 April 1975, 10 weeks before his eleventh birthday.
Needless to say, he won the award for the Best Player Under 13, which was the first of a string of awards, and the beginning of a story of triumph and tragedy.
He won the Under 13 Best Player award again in 1976 and, after playing in consecutive runner up sides, was a member of the 1977 under 15`s Premiership team.
The following year he snared his first major award, the Lexton League Under 15 Best Player, winning by just one vote from his team mate Greg Jess.
In 1979 he played in Avoca`s Reserve grade premiership team and at the age of 16 was one of the best players in Avoca seniors` `drought breaking` Premiership side.
1981 was another memorable year for David. He played in back to back Premierships, and during the season booted four goals in a best afield performance for the Lexton League team.
He capped of a great year by winning Avoca`s Best & Fairest award with 42 votes. All this, and still only 17 years old.
From a personal view point, 1982 was an even better season.
Again he was selected in the Lexton League Side, and in the Club Best & fairest award he streaked away to win with a massive 63 votes, twice as many as the second place getter.
He also won the prestigious Maffescioni Award which decides the best player in the competition according to club votes.
David played most of the 1983 season with Beaufort, but returned to Avoca in 1984 and promptly took out the club`s big double, the Best & Fairest award and the Goal Kicking trophy with 51 goals.
Again he left Avoca and played 1986 and 1987 seasons with Maryborough Rovers, where he was an outstanding success, winning consecutive Best & Fairest awards.
For a third time he returned home to Avoca and again stormed away to win the Best & Fairest trophy in 1988 with 52 votes.
In 1989 he re-wrote the club`s record books by winning the Best & Fairest award for a fifth time with a massive 55 votes.
He finished third in the League`s top player award, just 5 votes of the pace, and was second in the Maffescioni award, three votes behind the winner.
David was just 25 years of age when he suffered a serious knee injury against Marnoo at the start of the 1990 season.
Although he did not play again until the following year, he appeared to recover and finished third in the club`s Best & Fairest award, behind Shane Jackson and Brendan Jolly.
In 1992 he played one game on permit with Donald, but injured his knee again and sadly retired at the relatively young age of 27.
David`s enviable record with Avoca includes;
Seven Senior Best & Fairest Awards. (Club Record)
Five Premierships (Three Senior, one Reserves & Under 15)
Club Senior Goal Kicking Award.
Maffescioni Award.
Lexton League Under 15 Best & Fairest.
Leaxton league Senior Best & Fairest.
Whilst most footballers would envy his achievements, there is a school of thought that suggests David had the ability and potential to reach even greater heights.
Typically David has again confounded the local football fraternity by making a gutsy comeback in 1993.
*Footnote: After making his comeback, David Edwards played brilliant football in the final series and was judged the best player of the Second Semi and Preliminary finals as well as also being the best player of the winning 1993 Grand Final side.
He also won the Lexton Football League Best & Fairest in 1993 as well as winning the club Best & Fairest in 1993 and again in 1994, which was the seventh time he won the Avoca FC Best & Fairest at senior level.
A True Legend of the Avoca FC!
