LAST season, Leon Davis played his 200th game for Collingwood. At that point, his career highlights package was about as spectacular as a modern AFL player could deliver.

Some of the silkiest runs you would wish to see, goals from positions where to even get a scrubbing kick away seemed impossible, and spectacular marks where Davis would float to the ground with ball in hand when breaking a part of his upper body seemed a more likely outcome.

He was unlucky not to have received a second consecutive All-Australian honour in 2010 but the questions around his ability to perform in finals proved salient, as he was almost dropped for the Grand Final, kicking a solitary goal in the draw with the Saints and fading out of the game completely.

The axe fell on Davis for the replay in what must have been the worst football news any player could receive. It seemed that Neon Leon’s career would have the unluckiest of endings.

Not for the first time, Mick Malthouse had other plans. He offered Davis a chance to reinvent himself as a defender, reasoning that the veteran’s exquisite use of the ball and quick hands would complement Collingwood’s strong collection of tall defenders perfectly.

The signs in the 2011 NAB Cup Final were good, with Davis collecting 22 touches running off half back. Since then, he’s backed up that form with arguably his strongest AFL season yet, delivering career highs in kicks, handballs and overall possessions.

More importantly, Davis has been wonderfully consistent, his only statistically insignificant game being his first of the season against Carlton when he was brought on as a substitute late on.

Now generally entrusted with Collingwood’s kick-in duties, Davis is playing an accountable role but also delivering pace and attacking thrusts that make the Magpies an even greater scoring threat than they were in 2010.

This week Davis earns a spot in Greatest Team of All, taking the back pocket slot away from Matthew Scarlett (missing through injury against the Crows and with a bye this week).

It seems that a shot at finals redemption for Leon Davis is just around the corner and while his 2011 highlight reel might be a bit shorter, it may have a much more satisfying ending.