a former basketballer and sprinter in his junior days, davenport was a late-comer to football, but excelled in his early years of exposure to the game. in 2005 he made his local leagues (ellinbank & district football league) team of the year, named on the wing after a stellar season with his home club nilma darnum where he won the club best and fairest. he then went on to playing as a top-up player for 's vfl side in 2006, and he impressed with his dynamic game, where he has made his name as a goal-kicking wingman. he won the vfl's fothergill-round medal as the league's best young talent, before being picked up with the geelong's 38th pick in the 2006 rookie draft.