BY NATHAN DOLE
IF ONE McEvoy doesn’t hurt you, then the other two might as Colbinabbin plays Mount Pleasant in this Saturday’s third round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District FNL season.
The McEvoy brothers – Ben, Matt and Peter – mark a long-term goal when they all play in the same team.
After calling an end to a 252-game AFL career at the end of the 2022 season, Ben will don Colbinabbin’s distinctive green and gold guernsey.
Whether it be in the ruck, attack or defence, Ben’s experience and leadership gained from stints at Hawthorn and St Kilda will be a huge plus for Colbo.
Peter is a gun forward who played in the VFL with Box Hill Hawks and Coburg Lions, and Matt’s a key defender and 120-game player for the club who was among Colbinabbin’s best in the 2019 grand final.
Colbinabbin FNC secretary Mark Turner said it’s a huge coup for the club to have the McEvoy brothers play in a “one-off match”.
Turner said the club was expecting a big turn-out for the home game at M.J. Morgan Reserve.
“Ben, Peter and Matt had spoken about playing a game together once Ben had finished in the AFL. It’s happening this week.
“As a club we are rapt this will happen, not just for them, but their families and friends.”
Turner said the support from Bundoora, where Peter is now playing, was also significant.
“Bundoora was happy to support Peter for what is a special match.”
Ben and Peter trained at Colbinabbin last Thursday, and Ben will be back on the Grasshoppers’ turf for Thursday night’s build-up to the clash with the Mountain Men.
At 200cm and 101kg, Ben McEvoy will be a difficult match-up for Mt Pleasant in what will be the final game of a memorable footy career.
Drafted by St Kilda at pick nine in the 2007 draft, Ben McEvoy played 91 games for the Saints.
He did play in the 2010 grand final replay in which St Kilda was beaten by Collingwood.
After being traded to Hawthorn, McEvoy’s run of 161 matches included the premiership wins in 2014 and ’15.
He was Hawks’ captain in 2021 and ’22.
This Saturday is not the first time Ben and Peter McEvoy have been in the same team.
In 2014 they played for Box Hill Hawks in the 2014 VFL elimination final against Port Melbourne.
The brothers had a combined tally of six goals as the Hawks won by 24 points.
Peter started his VFL journey with Box Hill in the development league where he was the competition’s joint best and fairest in 2014.
He later crossed to Coburg Lions and in 2021 was selected at centre half-forward and named captain of the VFL’s Team of the Year.
“Where Ben plays is a call he will make with our coach, Jed Brain,” said Turner.
“To have a player of his ability and experience will be a massive plus for our team,” he said of Colbo’s bid to beat its long-time rival.
Many members of the McEvoy clan have had an impact with Colbinabbin.
John and Tom McEvoy, father and grandfather of Ben, Peter and Matt were premiership winners with the Grasshoppers.
Another branch of the McEvoy family which included Phil also dominated many games for Colbo.
In recent years, Phil’s daughter Lucy has played AFLW.
A talented midfielder, Lucy played 33 matches across the 2020 to ’22 seasons with Carlton and has signed with Sydney Swans for the ’23 summer campaign.