The combination of determination and hard work paid off on Friday night at the 2012 Mayne Tigers Club Champion Presentation for Danny Evans.

Danny Evans has been a club stalwart for the Tigers since crossing over from the Kedron Juniors in the under 16’s to follow his older brother Matthew who was playing under 18’s and pushing for a senior spot at the time.

After playing a couple of seasons of under 18’s Danny was looking to push up to the senior squad. Whilst he clearly had the potential to play senior footy, he was taking his footy a bit too much for granted and didn’t appreciate what he needed to do to make it. A conversation with Reserves Coach Russell Ditchburn at the beginning of 2010 about his prospects and some solid encouragement, tough love and assistance from brother Matthew woke the inner footballer. The under 18 age regulations allowed Danny to have a further season in the under 18’s, so after a change in his fitness regime and an opportunity to play in the midfield he had a breakout year and was voted the Under 18 best and fairest for season 2010.

In 2011 Danny was headed for a podium finish for the reserve grade awards but a season ending injury foiled those high prospects. The 2012 season was a much improved one for the Mayne Reserves with nine wins and an equal fifth placing. Danny was able to take the field for almost every one of those games this year and his performances in the midfield were instrumental in taking the club to this much improved position.

In the end, Danny took out both the Graham Walters Trophy for Best and Fairest in the Mayne Reserve Grade and the much coveted Peter Ives Player’s Player Trophy.

Other award winners were Captain Tom Ditchburn taking out Runner Up Best and Fairest, Chris Paterson, Most Consistent who polled in third place while Joe Hickey took out the Coaches Award, Justin Moritz Best Team Man, Jake Magill Most Determined and Scott Fayle the Best First Year Player Award.