Ben McEvoy announces his retirement, effective at the end of the 2022 season.
The 33-year-old was able to recover from a broken neck to play again in 2022, running out for his 250th game last round against Gold Coast, but said it was the right time to step away.
James Sicily will captain the Hawks for the next four months as they reassess their leadership structure in the absence of regular skipper Ben McEvoy.
"His passion for the game, his understanding of it and his ability to read what's happening live, as well as post-game (is outstanding)," Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said of Sicily.
"His passion for not just his own performance but the team's collective performance and the direction that we're going has been significant."
Ben McEvoy is sidelined until the second half of the 2022 season after suffering a small fracture in his neck during a contest at training.
"Once healed, this will have no impact on Ben's ability to play football moving forward," Hawthorn club doctor Liam West said.
"At this stage we expect him to return to the team in the back half of the season. We'll continue to assess Ben throughout his recovery following further specialist advice."
Ben McEvoy says he is still adjusting to his role as Hawthorn captain in 2021.
"I'm starting to get used to it. It's not been my style. I'm a low-key guy, a country guy, I like things pretty simple. I've never gone looking for the limelight, but this is a huge privilege. I am so humbled, so privileged to be in this position and really excited about throwing myself into it," McEvoy said.
Ben McEvoy reveals that he did not enjoy playing under his first coach, Ross Lyon, at St Kilda.
"Ross was very unlucky, and the thing that I say now but probably not at the time - I didn't enjoy playing under Ross too much," McEvoy said.
"I found him hard to deal with, and I was a young, naïve kid. I am absolutely sure he would've found me just as frustrating to coach. But the thing I loved about Ross' teams was that there was no ego attached. Everyone played their role."
Ben McEvoy is the Hawks' surprise choice as captain for the 2021 season with Jaeger O'Meara to serve as vice-captain.
James Worpel is a new addition to the new-look leadership group and joins existing members Liam Shiels, Jack Gunston and Tom Mitchell.
"To be voted in by my teammates and receive the support of the club is an honour," McEvoy said.
"This club has given me a lot over the years, and I see this as an amazing opportunity to give back and play my role in ensuring we continue to make the Hawthorn family proud."
Ben McEvoy has returned to his life on the farm with his family following the suspension of the 2020 AFL season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It's really great; the simple pleasures they get. It rained yesterday, so they're running around, jumping in puddles, getting muddy. They love all that," McEvoy said.
"I couldn't imagine, long term, raising my kids anywhere else, as much as we're mostly in the city at the moment."
Ben McEvoy is adjusting to life as a defender after making the switch late in 2019.
"It was pretty much out of left field. There was nigh on no preparation. I think one training session," McEvoy said about the round 22 game against Gold Coast where he was switched to defence.
"So, I'll be honest: I was absolutely packing my dacks going out to play that game, thinking, 'Wow, I could look like an idiot on national TV'. But a couple of minutes in, you get involved in some contests and then your footy instincts take over and I found it really enjoyable."
Ben Stratton will captain the Hawthorn Football Club for a second-straight season in 2020, with six other players making up the rest of the leadership group.
Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O'Meara have been named co-vice captains, with Mitchell joining the leadership group for the first time.
Jack Gunston was the sole vice-captain last year, but has chosen to relinquish his title. Gunston has remained in the leadership group however, with Isaac Smith, Liam Shiels, Ben McEvoy rounding out the group.
"It's been a big 12 months of development, both for us as leaders and for the wider playing group," Stratton said.
"I'm confident the experience and lessons learned will only strengthen my leadership going forward, and I'm excited to see what 2020 brings."
Ben McEvoy is set to miss up to six weeks after suffering an ankle injury when Richmond defender Nathan Broad tackled him late in the first quarter of the Hawks' clash against the Tigers.
"He's had the high ankle sprain out of the game on the weekend, a sort of mild syndesmosis," Hawthorn football boss Graham Wright said.
"They're a little bit tricky, obviously, and do take some time, so we'll just give him plenty of time and hope that he's back not too far after the bye."
Ben McEvoy signs one-year contract extension with Hawthorn to remain at the club in 2020.
"He has become such an important and consistent player for us, and he seems to be only getting better with age," Hawthorn football manager Graham Wright said.
"He's also a great role model to his teammates – his leadership both on and off the field is held in high regard."
Ben Stratton will replace Jarryd Roughead as the Hawks' captain in 2019.
Jack Gunston will serve as Stratton's deputy, with Smith, Shiels and newcomers Jaeger O'Meara and Ben McEvoy rounding out the club's official leaders.
"Some of his best qualities will relate to who he is as a person and his values and behaviours," Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said of Stratton.
"He doesn't care so much about himself as an individual as he does about his mates, and that's why it's such an endearing quality that has all his teammates just loving playing with this guy."
Ben McEvoy returns to the Hawks' side this week after six week on the sidelines with a fractured cheekbone.
"He had a pretty serious facial injury and had plates inserted into an eye socket on his cheek," Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said of McEvoy's injury.
"There are some cheekbones you can come back in one or two weeks, but his was a pretty serious knock.
"He's taken the full six weeks to recover from that, which is the normal time for a skeletal injury to recover and we're rapt."
Tom Mitchell joins his father as a club best and fairest winner, claiming the Peter Crimmins Medal as reward for his brilliant first season at Hawthorn in 2017.
The former Swan proved one of the AFL's best recruits in an astonishing 2017 campaign, where he broke the all-time record for possessions (787) in the home and away season.
Mitchell was an All Australian for the first time this year and finished second behind record-setting Tiger Dustin Martin in the Brownlow Medal.
The 24-year-old polled 192 votes to easily capture Hawthorn's highest individual honour, ahead of ruckman Ben McEvoy (138) and the departing Luke Hodge (131).
"It's a special feeling, obviously to see some of the past winners that have won the Peter Crimmins Medal," Mitchell said.
"Now I'm comfortable around the club and understand the surroundings and how the culture works, (being in the leadership group is) something I'd like to strive towards."
Ben McEvoy wants to remain part of Hawthorn's rebuild post the premiership three-peat and is loving the game as much as ever.
"It's still a great game we're playing and I'm lucky to be playing at a great club and loving it and for as long as the game will have me, I'll be around," he said.
"I've never made any secret of (wanting to go back to the country once I retire). I get back any chance I can and certainly hold no fears for what comes after footy.
"But for the minute, this is my No.1 priority and I'm still loving playing the game."
Ex-Saint Ben McEvoy says it was strange watching his former club play against Melbourne.
"That was probably weirder than me playing in a Hawks jersey was watching the boys run around, but it was good to see them get a win first up," McEvoy said.
"Knowing how tough it was last year, it was really good for them to be able to kick-off the year with a win."
Ben McEvoy plays his first game as a Hawk against the Brisbane Lions in the NAB Cup Challenge.
"It was really good for him to play with his teammates tonight and really feel a part of it after such a hard training period where he's impressed with his character and his training qualities," Hawthorn assistant coach Luke Beveridge said.
"We've found him to be a really mature young man, an old head on young shoulders, and he really adds to our leadership mix and that's a big bonus.
"It's not just his playing qualities; it's his integrity and his character, so we're rapt to have him at the club."
Former Saint Ben McEvoy says he was informed via a phone call at 3am in the morning while he was holidaying in Cambodia that he would be traded to the Hawks.
"Because of the time difference it was about three o'clock in the morning over there," McEvoy said.
"I was coming off only one or two hours' sleep and got my football career tipped on its head, so it was a bit crazy.
"But having made the decision, and had some time for it to sink in, I'm really excited."
Veteran Saint Lenny Hayes says youngster Jack Newnes, along with a number of other St Kilda players, has the potential to one day captain the club.
"Without putting too much pressure on a guy like Jack Newnes, I see a lot of leadership qualities in him," Hayes said.
"Jarryn Geary has become a really important player for us and a good leader over the last couple of years. Ben McEvoy's in there as well.
"Even a guy like Leigh Montagna, if 'Roo' didn't want to do it next year, then I'm sure he could take over for a couple of years until one of those younger guys is ready."
Nick Riewoldt will captain St Kilda for an eight successive season under a new leadership structure.
Riewoldt will be joined by Leigh Montagna, Nick Dal Santo, Ben McEvoy, James Gwilt, David Armitage, Sean Dempster and Jarryn Geary in the leadership group after Sam Fisher and Adam Schneider decided to step aside.
St Kilda big man Ben McEvoy will miss at least a month of football after injuring his knee at training.
Friday, 24 September 2010
St Kilda ruckman Ben McEvoy says he was surprised to be dropped for the 2010 grand final in favour of Steven Baker who returns from a 13-week suspension, but respects the match committee's decision.
"I didn't know it was coming but you are never guaranteed a game in the AFL, no matter who you are," McEvoy said at the grand final parade.
"You can't take it for granted. It was a bit of a shock, but that is the way it goes."
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
St Kilda ruckman Ben McEvoy has dashed to the tiny town of Dederang to help his family prepare to fight threatening bushfires.