Phil Davis has learned a lot about captaincy since he was handed the challenge of helping to lead the AFL’s youngest side at the age of just 21.

But his three months out of the game with a kidney injury taught him just as much about leadership as any on-field challenge he’s faced over the past two years.

“Being on the sidelines really helped me develop different sides to my leadership,” Davis, now 23, said.

“When you’re not playing it’s a difficult time as a leader because you do a lot of talking during the week, however the main thing about a good captain is how they perform on the weekend. 

“To have that missing from the artillery of being a leader was a challenge but that’s why I’ve come back and really want to make sure I make a good stance as a leader on the field and make up for all the time I’ve missed. 

“I had to do more off-field work and try and do a bit more work with the younger players and make sure I picked up on things maybe the players miss because you’re actually playing the game.”

Davis seriously hurt his kidney in Round 1 and made his return to AFL football two weeks ago against the Brisbane Lions. While he was only out of the game for 12 weeks, it was a steady recovery for the defender, whose return was a week-by-week proposition and a timeline on his comeback was always indefinite.

“This (week) will be my third game back now and it’s been a slow build from Round 1 to getting back but it’s been nice to come back into a side that’s been winning,” Davis said.

“I’m probably not back to where I was at Round 1 but I feel like I’m on my way.”

Sharing the co-captaincy with fellow 23-year-old Callan Ward, Davis said he felt the duo complimented each other as leaders of the young GIANTS.

“I think you always look at balance in the leadership department. You can look at what Callan’s really good at but also the areas that I’m deficient in as well and try to balance those out. 

“The great thing about Callan is he’s such a great person and a great learner and he’s great in teaching me ways to get better and hopefully we can work together and make sure that we’ve got a pretty comprehensive cover across the group in terms of leadership.”

With one leader on the sidelines, Davis was impressed by the GIANTS who stepped up in his absence in the first half of the season.

“There were some great opportunities for younger players who have not only developed as players but also as leaders,” he said.

“Shane Mumford’s come back and taken his leadership to another level, he’s been terrific, and Heath Shaw.

“Out of the younger people, Devon Smith and in particular Stephen Coniglio have been terrific.”

With the club facing criticism just weeks ago after two poor performances against West Coast and Richmond, Davis said it was difficult to watch from the sidelines.

“People like to have a go at you from pillar to post about everything, it’s pretty difficult not being able to play because you can’t get out there, but your job is just to support them,” he said.

“To me it shows a group that’s got a large amount of resilience and a great character so it’s an exciting time for the football club going forward that we’ve been challenged and also been able to respond as well.”

Davis said the group faces an obviously tough match this week against the Swans, who the GIANTS famously upset in Round 1. But the defender said it was important to look long-term as well.

“This week’s game against Sydney is going to be a big challenge for us,” he said. 

“They’re obviously going very well and we’re had a good month as well so they’re going well but we think we’re in a really good place to hopefully compete hard and put in another really good performance.

“We want to make sure the last month is the bar, we don’t drop below that and we always continue to improve. 

“It’s about setting up really good foundations, nine matches to go, anything can happen, we want to make sure we lay down really good performances out week-in week-out and that leads is hopefully to a good off-season and even bigger and better things for 2015.”