FOOTBALL

MID GIPPSLAND

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

MORWELL East Football-Netball Club cornerstone Brendan Evans is one game away from breaking the club’s senior games record, previously set by Darren Tatterson of 254.

The number 29 has already been synonymous with Evans, having played his entire career in the brown and gold dating back to juniors in 2005.

It’s safe to say he’ll be a Hawk until the day he hangs up the boots.

“I’ve been a part of the club for a long time, the people have always been fantastic (to) anyone who’s come into the club, always been good people and easy to get along with,” he said.

“(I’ve) made some really good friends, close friends over the years from the playing group, officials and volunteers, all that.”

The football-netball club has been in his blood since he could remember, his father David Evans served as club president for over half a decade through the 1990s and 2000s.

“Morwell East has always been a part of the family. I find myself to be pretty loyal and that’s why I’ve always played there and I’ve enjoyed every moment,” Evans said.

One thing missing from Evans playing career is that allusive senior premiership.

The club, dating back to last off-season, has reloaded with some heavy recruitment in the chase for their first senior flag since 2005.

“To be honest, that’s probably the one thing I’m still playing for outside of the friendships I’ve made with the group, that’s a big part of it as well, but a premiership would definitely cap off my career personally and probably a lot of people’s careers at the club as well,” Evans said.

“We’re sitting at a reasonably good spot this year, especially with those recruits… it would be very nice to go all the way this year, for sure.”

Despite still chasing the ultimate, Evans does have a reserves flag under his belt, with a premiership in 2010.

The 34-year old halfback is still spry and says he still has plenty left in the tank.

“To be honest, I feel fit enough to keep playing, but it’s just the body starting to let me down a little bit, but that’s for me to manage, I guess, and hopefully there is a bit more footy left (in me),” he said.

Morwell East at the time of writing sit equal-second on the Mid Gippsland ladder at a win-loss record of 9-2, beating the likes of back-to-back grand finalist Newborough and narrow losses to top-placed Fish Creek and equally good Yinnar this season.

Editor’s note: Best wishes and congratulations to Evo, a former Express employee, on breaking the senior games record. Fantastic achievement.