Bernie Evans
1978-1985
148 games
212 goals
Best and Fairest 1984
All Australian 1984

It was Bernie Evans' destiny to join the Swans. His passion for the club ran deep from his childhood in South Melbourne, and he never lost sight of his dream to don the iconic red and white guernsey.

Embarking on his football journey with the Port Melbourne YCW Under 11s—a junior club affiliated with Port Melbourne's VFA club—Evans progressed from these modest origins. Displaying persistence and skill to earn a spot in the Borough's Under 19s, then reserves as a daring and speedy rover or half forward.

Evans made his debut for Port at the age of 17 during the 1975 VFA season. However, in 1976, while en route to the Under 19s best and fairest count, he was involved in a motor accident that dislocated his left shoulder. As a result, Evans underwent surgery, with his shoulder pinned, to rectify the injury.

He worked hard on the recovery, returning to Port's senior team as they enjoyed an outstanding 1977 season. It was the VFA's centenary season, and The Borough won the Centenary Cup knockout competition as well as the premiership. Evans emerged as a young player of repute, possessing lightning speed coupled with impeccable skill. Soon after the premiership celebrations subsided, South Melbourne got in touch.

Arriving with a burgeoning reputation as one of Victorian football's brightest young stars did not affect Evans. He won a place in the Round 1 Swans team in 1978 and never looked back. Later, Evans described debuting for the club he'd always followed as "A dream come true."

Notably, Evans was honoured with the Cazaly Award from the Truth newspaper as the most outstanding first-year player in the League. This award served as a precursor to the prestigious Rising Star Award and signified that the talented former Port player stood out among his peers.

According to longtime Swans historian and author Jim Main, "Evans played every game that season and won immediate recognition as a highly-skilled rover or centreman with a knack for goals. He also became a firm favourite with Swans fans because of his courage and cheeky ability to upset the opposition."

Under Swans coach Ian Stewart's expert tutelage, Evans exhibited an exceptional talent for effortlessly weaving his way through clusters of opponents and flawlessly delivering the ball. Whether roaming around or stationed on a half-forward flank, his presence posed a constant threat, and his adeptness at scoring from any position proved decisive. Within a short period, he'd established himself as one of South's key players.

Exhilarated by his new situation, Evans was thrilled to be playing for his beloved club. The football legends he admired as a boy—Bob Skilton, Max Papley, and Peter Bedford—represented South with distinction, and now, he was forging his own path.

By 1981, Evans had played over 50 games, and when news broke of South Melbourne's intention to relocate north, he faced the predicament of leaving his hometown. "At the end of the day, when the people voted to go to Sydney, I was happy with whatever decision they made," Evans said. "But, personally, I would rather they'd stayed in South Melbourne."

The story of the South Melbourne Football Club's relocation to Sydney is a tapestry woven with emotions, hopes, and a deep sense of longing for what was left behind, juxtaposed with the anticipation of a new beginning. In 1982, the Swans made a monumental decision to move, marking a profound change not only for the club itself but for the fans and the communities it had been a part of for so long. It was a transition filled with complexity and a wide array of emotions for everyone involved.

As a local junior, Evans understood those complexities more than most. Never daunted, though, he embraced the challenge of the new frontier and played a leading role in the Swans securing the 1982 Escort Cup as night premiers. The win represented hope amid the chaos.

After the match, Australian Football Action reported, "Bernie Evans, voted by television commentators as best on the ground, sat in a corner with a huge grin spread across his face. Nothing would disturb his happiness that night."

Following the victory, the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Cr Doug Sutherland, proudly flew the Swans' night premiership pennant atop the Sydney Town Hall. The players lived and trained in Melbourne throughout the 1982 season, flying in and out of Sydney for their SCG home games. Ahead of the 1983 season, the relocation became permanent.

Evans moved alongside his teammates, and they pioneered the national competition. However, he was among a group of players who wished to return to Melbourne in 1984. Swans' reserves coach Peter Hogan trained them at the Lake Oval, and Evans recalled, "Hoges worked wonders with our little group and played an important part in the development of Warwick Capper and one or two others, even though the circumstances were daunting. For that he deserves nothing but the highest praise."

The main driver behind Evans' desire to return home was the impending birth of his eldest daughter. Bernie and his wife Therese raised their three girls in the heart of Bloods territory. "Quadey was the coach at the time, and he didn't mind me coming home to have some senior experience back in Melbourne to help guide the reserves."

"I used to fly up on Friday afternoons, train with them on Friday night, play the games on Sunday afternoons, and most of the time, we'd come back to Melbourne Sunday night."

The complicated circumstance didn't hamper the impact Evans had on the field. As a 'fly-in' player, he won the Swans' 1984 best and fairest award. He played all 22 matches, averaging 21 disposals per game, while kicking 36 goals. Despite the increase in travel, Evans felt more settled and enjoyed his new job as a tally clerk on the Melbourne wharves. Selection in the All-Australian team capped off an outstanding year.

He continued that stellar form into Round 1 of the 1985 season. Playing the Saints at Moorabbin, Evans compiled 26 disposals and kicked a whopping nine goals. Unsurprisingly, the masterful performance earned him three Brownlow Medal votes. But, as the season progressed, it became clear that the new private ownership regime would require all players to reside in Sydney.

Feeling the need to ensure his job stability, Evans reluctantly informed the Swans that he could not relocate to Sydney. Following an array of proposals from Carlton, Collingwood, Footscray, and Hawthorn, he ultimately chose to sign with the Blues, where he remained for the final three seasons of his career.

Evans told Jim Main, "It would have been fantastic to have played alongside Williams and company, and not doing so is something I regret. I also wonder about what might have been if the Swans had been able to retain all our players over this era as David Rhys-Jones also went to Carlton and David Ackerly went to North Melbourne."

"I still believe the Swans could have won a premiership over the 1986-87 seasons if they had been able to keep all their players."

If not for suspension, Evans would have claimed a premiership with Carlton in 1987, and he retired a year later. In 2016, he was inducted into the Swans Hall of Fame and retains his affinity for the red and white.

"I am proud. Coming from a humble background, kicking paper footies around South Melbourne on our little one-way street and ending up playing for the club I barracked for and love, it's just a dream come true."