Jack Evans

Jack "Copper" Evans was a versatile big man who became a central figure in one of Geelong’s most successful eras. Recruited from Minyip in the Wimmera district, Evans stood 182cm—a significant height for the time—and split his playing duties between the ruck and centre half-forward. He earned his nickname through his occupation as a constable with the Victoria Police, a career he balanced alongside his football commitments. Known for his strong marking hands and ability to push forward and score, Evans established himself as a dangerous dual-threat player who could impose himself physically on a contest or drift forward to finish off the work of the smaller midfielders.

Evans' career defined the concept of a "big game player," with his crowning moment coming in the 1937 Grand Final against Collingwood. In a match widely regarded by contemporaries as one of the finest exhibitions of football in the pre-war era, Evans dominated the forward line to boot a match-winning six goals, securing his second flag with the Cats after previously tasting success in the 1931 premiership side. He was the club's leading goalkicker in 1935 and a regular Victorian state representative, retiring in 1938 as a dual premiership hero who had firmly etched his name into Geelong folklore.