From SANFL footballer to award-winning Royal Adelaide greenkeeper

The SANFL standout moved from Tasmania to Adelaide to chase his AFL dream with the Crows. But now he’s scoring accolades in areas he never expected.

South Adelaide's Oliver Davis in his greenkeeper’s role at Royal Adelaide Golf Club. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Oliver Davis moved to Adelaide from Tasmania as a teenager to chase his dream of being an AFL footballer.

Four years later, the 23-year-old’s career has taken a surprise twist.

The standout midfielder is not only making waves on the football ground, but also on the golf course.

While Davis’s AFL aspirations have yet to be realised, his off-field career has blossomed.

Named South Adelaide’s best player in its upset win against SANFL rival North Adelaide in Port Pirie last Saturday, Davis is the toast of Royal Adelaide Golf Club after this month being named the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association Graduate of the Year for his outstanding work at the world-renowned course.

Davis became only the second recipient from a South Australian organisation to win the award in its 30-year history, putting his name in lights on the national stage.

“It’s pretty humbling to win it and a good step in the right direction for my future in the industry,’’ said Davis, who completed his Certificate III in sports turf management in November and was named Turf Management SA’s 2025 Apprentice of the Year, which qualified him for the national award.

“It recognises the hard work that I’ve put in and the blokes who have been mentoring me.

“It’s funny how things have turned out for me in Adelaide but I couldn’t be happier.’’

Davis believes he has the best of both worlds.

The Apple Islander originally moved to SA as a wide-eyed, 18-year-old in 2021 from his club side Clarence to join the Adelaide Crows as an AFL train-on and SANFL-listed player after the AFL club expressed mid-season draft interest in him.

At the time he described the move as “an opportunity that was too good to pass up’’.

But, despite strong form in the SANFL, Davis was overlooked at the mid-year draft, with the Crows opting for Albury utility Patrick Parnell, who has since been delisted and joined SANFL club Glenelg.

When Davis was overlooked again at the end-of-season drafts, he knocked back the chance to remain with Adelaide as a SANFL top-up player and joined the Panthers.

He was also searching for a new job after previously working in the Crows’ membership services department.

Oliver Davis in SANFL action for South Adelaide against Port Adelaide at Noarlunga Oval in Round 11. Picture: David Mariuz/SANFL

Oliver Davis, a greenkeeper at Royal Adelaide Golf Club, after he won a national award for turf management. Picture: Kelly Barnes

His love of golf led him to a greenkeeper’s role at Royal Adelaide at the end of 2021 and he hasn’t looked back since, culminating in his national award, which has earned him a trip of a lifetime to Orlando in the United States as part of his turf management tuition.

A competent golfer himself with a handicap of 9.5, Davis’s course preparation role at Royal Adelaide includes “cutting greens and fairways, bunker work and spraying, fertilising and nutrition programs’’.

He faces a juggling act with his football, starting work at 6am most days at the Seaton-based club and having evening training several nights a week at Noarlunga Oval.

“I usually knock off from work at 2pm and then get a couple of hours break before heading down south (to Noarlunga) for training,’’ said Davis, whose favourite golfers are Australians Min Woo Lee and Cam Smith and Americans Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson.

“There’s definitely some long days, but luckily I live halfway between the two venues (at Brighton) and have got myself into a good routine, where I prioritise nutrition and hydration to keep myself in decent nick to perform on weekends.’’

The best of both worlds: Star South Adelaide footballer Oliver Davis at Royal Adelaide Golf Club. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Davis is doing just that.

A midfield clearance specialist who captained the Tasmania Devils’ under-18 team in 2019 and won the Matthew Richardson Medal as the Tasmanian State League’s best under-23 player, he has played 59 games for South and averaged 21 or more disposals in all four years at the club.

In 12 games this season, Davis has averaged 22 disposals, six clearances and five tackles to be the leading Panther in The Advertiser SANFL Player of the Year voting, with seven.

“It was tough and a little scary moving away from home at 18, with my partner (Alice),’’ he said.

“But we’ve loved our time here and while things didn’t work out for me at the Crows, which was a bit disappointing, it was a helluva experience to be able to undertake an AFL training program.

“My footy journey’s been a good one, with some ups and downs along the way, and I’m really excited with what we’re building at South.

“We have a very talented young group coming through which we believe, in time, will lead to sustained success.’’

Originally published as From SANFL footballer to award-winning Royal Adelaide greenkeeper