Old Carey lose an icon in Max Evans

Old Carey Grammarians Football Club is deeply sorry to advise that one of the icons of the club has sadly passed away.

Max Evans, who was an integral part of our Club along with his wife Val during the 80’s and 90’s, died peacefully at home on Sunday afternoon watching his beloved Blues taking on the Hawks.

The team of Max and Val was synonymous with Old Carey having come to watch their son Mark (1986 Premiership player) pull on the Black, Gold and Blue and they soon got involved in Club administration and taking on tasks no one else would, well after Mark had retired.

No task was too big or too small for Max to take on: Vice President, Team Manager, Property Steward, Committee Member, Social club.  He helped with Catering and transport as well as he and Val taking all the gear home to wash and be ready for the following Saturday. In fact I’m sure there were times when the Ressies were short he would have pulled the boots on if allowed.

Max was at Bulleen for training on Tuesday and Thursday nights, Saturday game day managing both Seniors and Reserves and then after home games was back at Bulleen on Sunday mornings to hose out the rooms. Throw in a Wednesday night Committee meeting and you can see that for a long period Max and Val were all about Old Carey and the Club came first.

Max and Val took it upon themselves to produce a Yearbook from 1987 to 1994 which was painstakingly collated and bound in the Evans family lounge room after photocopies and secured from various office copiers at all hours of the day and night.

Max was no stranger to the Saturday night antics at the Elgin Inn having a drink or two with the players on what could be an eventful night. He was able to secure a “leave pass” to chaperone the boys on their end of season footy trip to Albury where he gained the nickname “Swan” after enjoying a bottle of white during dinner and a few reds post dinner. Even at times when Max had some surgeries and ill health, he was still a constant at Old Carey games and lunches.

Max was a friend and father figure to all at Old Carey.

All Old Carey players will wear black armbands this Saturday against Beaumaris.

The VAFA sends their deepest condolences to wife Val and Son Mark and family.

Max was 86.