EVANS, Ron

Ron Evans was a lightly built full-forward who was the VFL's leading goalkicker in both 1959 (78 goals) and 1960 (67 goals). He is still the youngest player to have topped the League's goalkicking - he was only 20 in 1959.

He arrived at Windy Hill from Essendon Baptists-St John's, where in his last year, 1957, he was the competition's Best and Fairest and had set a new Essendon District League goalkicking record.

Although lightly-built, Evans had long arms and was a strong mark.

Evans was also Essendon's third top goalkicker in 1958 and again in 1961. He kicked 10 goals in a game in 1960 and 9 goals twice in 1959. He also booted 8 goals in 1960 and 6 goals twice in 1959 and in 1960. He holds the equal record at Essendon for the most goals kicked against North Melbourne.

Evans was full-forward in Essendon's losing 1959 Grand Final team.

He represented Victoria in 1959 and 1960 and kicked 22 interstate goals which is the fourth top at Essendon.

Evans was also equal third top Brownlow Medal vote winner in 1960.

He won Essendon's Best Player Under 21 award in 1960.

In 1962, Evans he lost his place at full-forward to newcomer Charlie Payne. The next year, 1963, at the age of 23, Evans left Essendon and went to West Perth where he won the Western Australian Football League's goalkicking award. He won his club's goalkicking award in all three seasons he played.

Evans later returned to Melbourne and joined the EFC committee in 1978. He was President of the Essendon Football Club from 1988-1992 and proved to be a visionary when he sensitively managed the transition of the Club from playing home games at Windy Hill to the MCG. James Hird said the Evans-led path to the MCG had guaranteed the Club's future.

Evans was appointed to the AFL Commission in 1993, and was AFL Commission Chairman from 1998 to 2007. Among his achievements as an AFL Commissioner were the construction of Docklands Stadium; reconfiguring Telstra Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park for AFL matches; improving facilities at the MCG for supporters, players and the media by assisting with financing the Olympic Stand re-development, introduced policies to deal with racial and religious vilification, the use of illicit drugs and respect and responsibility towards women. He was also Commissioner when the League introduced AFL Kickstart program for indigenous communities and community training camps for AFL clubs; and when it secured record media rights agreements with the Seven Network, Network Ten, Foxtel, Telstra, News Limited and various radio stations.

Evans' business interests included roles as managing director of Spotless Services (caterers), director of Healthscope Ltd., and director of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

He was awarded AFL Life membership in 2006.

His brother, Neil, played 12 games for Essendon (1967-1968).

Ron Evans died from cancer on 9th March, 2007.