Former Hawthorn captain Ben "Big Boy" McEvoy and his two brothers weren't enough to get Colbinabbin over the line in a special one-off AFL match this weekend.
The former St Kilda and Hawthorn player, who retired at the end of last season, pulled on the boots at the weekend alongside his brothers Peter and Matt.
But the tall trio failed to help Colbinabbin over the line at the final siren, with Mount Pleasant running away with the lead to finish 102-53.
"I hadn't done a lot of preparation going in, but a few training sessions and a few runs and stuff," Ben said.
"It was a disappointing … result today but it was still a special occasion for our family and the body is [in] one piece."
Known as "Big Boy" throughout his career for his 2-metre frame, the tall defender and ruckman spent his day in the back line where he took a few trademark marks.
A throng of media lined the Colbinabbin Recreation Reserve and the day will now likely be turned into a documentary on grassroots football.
"We didn't get the win. We looked good in the first quarter with three goals to one up, but they are just a well-oiled unit and assaulted us," Matt said.
A day for the family
Despite growing up in the same household, the McEvoy trio had never played together. While born in Colbinabbin, the brothers spent their junior years playing for Dederang-Mount Beauty.
Get-togethers are usually limited to a few times a year plus gatherings at Christmas and special occasions such as the christening of Matt's son on Sunday.
"I played a couple of games when we're younger with Ben and he'd played a few with Pete. I'd played one senior game with Pete in 2013," Matt said.
"He and Ben played an elimination final in 2014 or 15 at Box Hill, but we've never actually all taken the field together.
"We got to run out with, with all nine of our kids, including our sister's two kids, so that that felt special as well. And I think the kids all enjoyed that."
'Never say never'
The chances of playing together again can't be ruled out, according to Matt, but with aching bodies and Peter playing for Bundoora in the Northern Football Netball League in Melbourne's north, teaming up is likely to remain a one-off special occasion.
First of all, they say 'never say never'. But you wouldn't want to put a bet on those odds. It's just it's not likely to happen again," Matt said.
"I'm just about past it, and then there's Ben and the 15 years of AFL taking a toll on his body, and Pete is still playing football at a high level, and we can't ask him to step away on a regular occasion like that; it's not fair on him and his club."
