FRANCIS EVANS has experienced the full range of emotions in the past few weeks.
From being at Geelong as the Cats won the premiership to being delisted days later, Port Adelaide’s newest recruit is now eager to make the most of a second chance at his AFL dream.
Still just 21, the strongly built small forward knew there was interest out of Alberton even before the season ended, but it wasn’t until the opening of the AFL’s delisted free agency window on Thursday that his move was confirmed.
“We were speaking to them maybe a month or two before the end of the season so we built that connection and it got me thinking about it,” Evans told portadelaidefc.com.au on Friday.
“After I got delisted, I probably thought it was my best chance to get back on a list and start playing some consistent footy.
“It’s been a bit of a wait. I had an idea for a few weeks that it was going to happen so it’s nice to be all official.
“I got a few messages from the boys and the staff yesterday which was really nice so I’ve already felt very welcome at the club and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into it in the next few weeks.”
Despite having an inkling he’d end up at Port Adelaide, Evans organised a trip to Europe to take his mind off his future.
He admits it was a strange period, going from the elation of celebrating premiership success with the Cats to not knowing whether he would remain an AFL player within a few days.
But he says he learned a lot about himself and the game in that period, and he hopes to use the experience to fuel him second time around.
“It was obviously an exciting time to be at the Cats during the finals,” Evans explained. “I think I learnt a lot of things throughout the 4-5 weeks we had in finals that I think I’ll be able to use individually and then help the team with come next year and hopefully for finals.
“It was a little bit weird. I’m obviously very thankful to the Cats for the three years they gave me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
“And I am very lucky and grateful that Port was interested and gave me a chance. A second chance...”
Originally drafted by the Cats with pick 41 in the 2019 national draft, Evans has shown glimpses of his talent in seven AFL games since his debut in Round 2, 2021.
Plucked from relative obscurity, playing division two amateur Victorian club Brunswick, he lists strong overhead marking and goal sense among his best attributes.
“I’m not the biggest bloke out there. I’m just a small little forward trying to get to the feet of the big boys,” Evans said.
“I try to kick a few goals and just apply as much pressure as I can but ultimately, I’m just happy to be in the team and play whatever role I can.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of talent up forward this year so I’m just happy to do whatever I can for the team this year and help us win.”
Among the forward talent at Port Adelaide Evans is looking forward to playing with is developing tall Ollie Lord, who he has met previously through mutual friends.
A tour of Alberton after the season gave him a chance to get acquainted with the facility and some of his new colleagues.
“It was a great first impression,” he said.
“Everyone I’ve met seems nice and caring. They obviously want me to be the best I can and help the team but they all seem like great people so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Quiet and measured with the way he presents, the nickname “Frank the Tank” might seem ill-fitting.
But he has learned to run with it.
“I reckon the media team (at Geelong) chucked it up and it’s kind of just stuck,” he explained.
“I’m not too fussed by it. It kind of stuck in my second year at the Cats and it makes people happy so I’m not really too fussed by it.”
Evans will move to Adelaide in the next week and look to hit the ground running when pre-season resumes for the players in their first to fourth seasons of football on November 21.
