Sturt’s season turnaround set scene for a flag to remember

JACK Oatey Medallist Fraser Evans says Sturt’s gutsy one-point grand final victory over Port Adelaide mirrored the courage the club showed in turning an 0-4 start to the season into a flag.

Sturt’s Fraser Evans grabs the ball during his Jack Oatey Medal-winning performance in the Double Blues’ SANFL grand final triumph over Port Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed

JACK Oatey Medallist Fraser Evans says Sturt’s gutsy one-point grand final victory over Port Adelaide mirrored the courage the club showed in turning an 0-4 start to the season into a flag.

The full-back was outstanding for the Double Blues, typifying the never-say-die attitude of his team-mates as they held off the fast-finishing Magpies to secure back-to-back premierships.

Evans said the belief displayed in the face of relentless Port pressure, particularly in the second half of the decider, summed up Sturt’s fighting spirit.

But he said grand final glory felt a long way off following the Double Blues’ faltering start to its flag defence.

“I knew it was going to be a big challenge,” said Evans of turning around his side’s winless opening to the campaign.

“To be 0-4 was concerning and we weren’t playing good footy.

“We were getting smashed early on (in the season).

“But credit to the guys, they just stuck to (coach) Marty (Mattner’s) game plan and we stayed positive around the club.

“It’s what you play footy for, to win premierships, and to win it in the fashion that we did is so special. The group of boys, I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Evans collected 13 disposals in a simple yet highly effective performance with the ball.

But it was as much his dogged work off the footy which helped Sturt frustrate Port as the Double Blues spent chunks of the contest camped in their defensive 50.

Most notably, the 26-year-old restricted the Magpies’ back-to-back Ken Farmer Medal winner Brett Eddy to just one behind with a dominant display in a key match-up.

“I was not expecting it (the Jack Oatey Medal) to come to me today,” 116-gamer Evans said.

“I thought there were a number of guys who played brilliant games.

“I felt like I just went long down the line every time I got it, but you take what you can.

“As much as it’s not attractive football, we knew we had to lock it in and we couldn’t let them get outside us.

“Marty talks about an 18-man defence all the time and defence will generally win you premierships.”