Robert Evans (Australian footballer)

Robert Evans
Personal information
Date of birth (1960-07-01)1 July 1960
Date of death 9 February 2024(2024-02-09) (aged 63)
Original team(s) Tullamarine (EDFL)
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 86 kg (190 lb)
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
1984−1990 Coburg 97
1986 Footscray 1 (0)
1991 Subiaco 14 (0)
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Robert Evans (1 July 1960 − 9 February 2024) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Coburg in the Victorian Football Association.[1] He also played a single game for Footscray in the Victorian Football League.

Football career

Evans joined Coburg in 1984, and was the club's best-and-fairest winner in his second season in 1985.[2] Although originally a full-forward, he was later moved to full-back by coach Phil Cleary.[2] Evans missed Coburg's 1988 premiership due to suspension, but he was part of the winning 1989 team.[3]

Evans left Coburg in 1991 to join West Australian Football League club Subiaco, playing 14 games.[4]

Evans returned to Coburg in 1998 as president, and was credited with saving the club from going under by orchestrating an alignment with Australian Football League club Richmond in 2001.[5]

Death

Evans died after a lengthy battle with cancer on 9 February 2024, at the age of 63.[5]

References

  1. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. p. 262. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
  2. ^ a b Walsh, Brian (13 June 1986). "Classy Bob kicks on to VFA fame". The Sun. p. 54.
  3. ^ "All the VFA details". The Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne, Victoria. 26 August 1963. p. 40.
  4. ^ "WAFL FootyFacts - EVANS, Rob". waflfootyfacts.net. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b Amy, Paul (13 February 2024). "'He saved the club': Vale Coburg football great Robbie Evans, gone at age 63 after cancer battle". Code Sports. Retrieved 16 February 2024.