By DAVID NAGEL
WATCHING his side triumph in a mesmerising last quarter against Berwick at Edwin Flack Reserve was almost too much to bear for Beaconsfield coach Clint Evans.
“Boof” was clearly shaken, and shaking, after the victory which saw him go two-nil up on his good mate Rhys Nisbet but more importantly put the Eagles right back in contention for the double-chance.
“That was just an unbelievable win,” Evans told his team after the match.
“We played great footy in the second quarter but then we let ourselves down in the third but the way you blokes persisted in that last quarter is why I love coaching this group.
“You can’t coach what you blokes just produced, the heart and endeavour, just the way you went about it is a real credit to every one of you blokes.”
Evans still looked in a state of shock when he spoke to the Gazette outside the change-rooms after his speech.
“It was huge, not just because it was Berwick, but because it means so much to our year,” he said.
“We know when we play our best we can match it with the top three or four, and Berwick is definitely in that group, so it was a real eight-point game for us today.”
Evans said he appreciated how lucky his side was to be in front after a topsy-turvy final quarter.
“It was a great game to watch and I really feel for Rhysy, both teams had a real dip and we were just lucky enough to be in front when it mattered. A draw would have been a good result but we’re very happy with the four points.”
Evans, as usual, was reluctant to single out players but, when pushed, did relent.
“Scotty Meyer rucked nearly all day and got himself into some dangerous spots and I thought our leaders really stood up at the end. We could have laid down but the players found an extra level.
“You just coach that emotion and grit.”
And he had a message for his good friend as the Gazette went looking for the vanquished.
“Just tell Rhysy I still love him.”
