BIO

Craig Evans came to Norwood in 2013 after a falling out with Sturt, where he was an experienced on-baller.  He wore a Norwood guernsey as a spectator at the 2012 grand final and enjoyed the vibe as a member of the squad which completed the premiership three-peat in the following two seasons. He missed playing in either grand final but at last nailed a premiership with his home club, Bridgewater, in 2016.

Craig was born at Ashford Hospital on 11 September 1983 and grew up at Mount George in the Adelaide Hills.  He went to school at Stirling East Primary and Glenunga High.  He played junior football with the Bridgewater Raiders and Sturt. Known as “Barge” or “Evo”, he kicked 56 goals in 113 league games for Sturt.  In his one interstate appearance, he kicked three goals for the South Australian team which lost to Western Australia by one point, 12.10 to 12.9, at Leederville Oval on 11 June 2009. 

Craig’s earliest link with Norwood was through his father, Johnno, a ball steward in the days of Neil Balme. Craig names coach Nathan Bassett as having the biggest influence of his football at Norwood and  considers his best game there was on debut against West Adelaide on Anzac Day 2013.  Norwood won at home, 9.13 to 6.5.  Craig was a participant in the rumble in the tunnel – the half-time scuffle involving West coach Andy Collins.

Craig played 23 league games with Norwood for 18 wins and five losses. Assisted by clinical ruck taps from Sam Baulderstone, he also kicked nine goals in 11 reserves games.

While at Norwood, Craig lived with Jace Bode and Michael Newton.  “When Cal Bartlett first got to the club, he slept on our couch for a month,” Craig said.  “We had endless get-togethers at 1/15 King William Street.  Mad Monday after the 2013 flag was one of the loosest days of my life. Dean Terlich was playing a dj set from the stands, Anthony Gianni got tied to the point post. We all got stung $50 to pay for the damages. Well worth it.”

An ACL injury in mid-2014 restricted Craig’s playing career at Norwood, where he was an assistant coach for two years. He also assisted Jace Bode at Bridgewater.  He later played in Victoria for the Wangaratta Magpies with Michael Newton and the Mondewarre Warriors with John Meeson before retiring to concentrate on his career as a civil engineer.

C. Evans with P. Robins, D. Cox, G. Adams October 2025