Coburg co-captain Peter McEvoy has emotionally announced to his teammates and club staff that 2022 will be his final year in the VFL and at Coburg, ending a nine year journey in the VFL.
McEvoy joined Coburg for the 2016 season following three years at Box Hill where he was a Todd Medallist as the best player in the VFL Reserves competition. McEvoy led the Coburg goalkicking on two occasions and has been Co-Captain of the club with Ryan Exon since 2019.
The 31-year-old has played 90 VFL matches and kicked 121 goals, including 13 goals from 16 matches in 2022, with two games left in his career against North Melbourne and Southport.
Last season, he was named captain of the VFL Team of the Year at centre half forward, kicking 22 goals from the 10 matches played in 2021.
Pete was the club’s leading goalkicker in 2017 and 2021 and was the recipient of the Nick Carnell Leadership Award in 2018 and 2021.
McEvoy began his VFL career at Box Hill, earning a spot on their development list for the 2014 season and won the A. Todd Medal as the Development League Best and Fairest alongside Port Melbourne’s Joshua Muling. He was also the leading goalkicker in the competition that year with 56 goals in 16 matches and made his VFL debut alongside brother Ben in the qualifying final against Port Melbourne.
Pete announced the decision to his teammates ahead of training on Thursday night.
McEvoy said it was one of the great privileges of his life to play for and captain Coburg.
“It was an incredibly difficult decision to retire, the club has been part of my life for the last seven years and I truly love the people and club more than I can ever express in words,” he said.
“I would love to continue playing for Coburg, but that next phase of life has arrived and it’s time to invest more time with my beautiful family at home (Tess & Hamish) and let the sun set on my time as a Coburg player. I will always be a Coburg person at heart, they’re part of my family and I am so thankful for how they’ve embraced me and my family.”
“There are so many wonderful people to thank, none more so than my wife Tess, who has been my rock and support for nine years of my VFL career. She is just incredible and I cannot explain how much she has sacrificed and provided to allow me to pursue my love of football, the VFL and the Coburg Football Club. I’m so thankful for the support from all of my immediate family, especially my amazing parents John & Sharon, who barely ever miss a game travelling 3-4 hours each week and always instilled such belief in me and particularly my older brother Ben, who’s been an inspiration and mentor for so many years.”
“I’m incredibly thankful to the club and coaching staff over the journey including Peter German and Leigh Adam’s for embracing me into the club and trusting me as a player and leader. But especially to the Club CEO Seb Spagnuolo and now current coach Andrew Sturgess, who have always had such great belief, trust and care for me and will forever remain close friends of mine. Mostly, I’m incredibly indebted to my teammates who have embraced me as a player, friend and leader and I cannot ever thank them enough for the memories and friendships they’ve given me.”
Senior Coach Andrew Sturgess said of McEvoy’s retirement announcement “He has been a fantastic role model and a bit of a catalyst for change really at our club in terms of shaping the environment, the behaviours of his peers and even leading up to myself and Seb in some ways as well and really being a driver of bringing in good people over talent first and foremost.”
“While we probably haven’t had the success that his time and energy and effort deserves I think that what he’s done is built a really solid foundation of a good culture that will see success in the future and its disappointing that he doesn’t get to see that but he should be really proud of the fact that he’s been a key driver in what’s to come hopefully.”
Coburg CEO Sebastian Spagnuolo added “Pete and the whole McEvoy family will be sorely missed by our club and the Coburg community. Pete has been such a strong presence in our club and an outstanding leader. To be a 90 game VFL player is one thing but to Captain the club, especially through the covid pandemic, is a remarkable achievement and one that Peter should feel really proud about. Pete will always be a Coburg person and we look forward to seeing him back as a supporter of the club along with his growing family.”
“The legacy Pete leaves is one that all current and future players look at and see the selflessness in his actions and decisions.”
Watch the video of Peter McEvoy announcing his retirement plans to his Coburg teammates.
All Coburg members and supporters are urged to get to Piranha Park tomorrow at 12.35pm for the game against North Melbourne which will be Peter McEvoy’s final game in Melbourne as a Coburg Lion.
Over the coming weeks, Coburg will be making further 2023 list management announcements and you can stay up to date by following the club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
