Thanks for the memories, Evo
26 August 2011
Evo arrived at the university a senior footballer - strong as an ox, fast and able to kick 60m on both feet.
However, some have said that the bright lights of the city was all a bit much for the lad from Serpentine - the lure of the ladies, the love of a good time and a dogged, yet fruitless, quest for a college football premiership meant that he never fully saw eye-to-eye with the coaches in his early years at Blacks. Former u/19 coach, John Bushby once quipped : “I’m done for ideas. Ask Evo – he farkin knows everything”. Paul O’Shannessy unceremoniously crowned Evo with the inaugural “double drop” in 2003 – playing Seniors, Reserves and then Club 18 in successive weeks.
Evo needed a break. So he took it…in a premiership year. Evo spent 2004 travelling the world.
But what came back was a bronzed, bearded and brutal footballing machine. Parko unleashed Evo in the forward line and during the golden era of 2005-2008 he became an integral part of the dominant Blacks senior team. It is said that Evo was shattered by how much the game had changed during his sabbatical – the focus of coaches turning to run-and-carry, possession, short kicks and his pet hate….rotations. As a footy purist, who loves laying the boot into the ball and applying fearsome attack on the ball and the opposition, Evo set himself to upset this “craze” of rotations – simply by removing one or two men from the opposition system. Job done.
Without doubt, the highlight of Evo’s career was his second half in the A Grade Promotion match of 2007, capped with a screamer in the goal square at the Southern End of Elsternwick in front of a massive Blacks contingent. He played on…..and kicked a point. But the end result was the right one - 8 years on from his debut, Evo was an A Grade senior footballer.
The twilight of Evo’s career has been tough – knee and hamstring injuries meaning he has not been at full capacity for 3 to 4 years. Maybe it is the footballing gods? You cannot play the way he plays without it catching up with you. It is a credit to Evo how he has fought back to full fitness this year and his game two weeks ago “wound back the clock”.
Evo’s injury misfortune in recent years has been the Blacks off-field gain. Never has there been a better documented era at the club. His outstanding talent with the camera and the cutting wit of the Black Bear has become the stuff of legend, Malcolm Douglas-like. But do not be fooled. Whilst it might all appear light-hearted banter from the Bear early in the week, in the modern era leaders are required to engage with their charges through all mediums of communication and amongst the humour there have been plenty of hard hitting editorials to ensure that things keep being done the Blacks way.
Congratulations Evo. Enjoy your time in the cave