Evandale's Clinton Black welcomes fourth child, wins through to grand final

Just 24 hours before, the 35-year-old had welcomed daughter Bianca into the world – his fourth child and second daughter.

With the blessing of wife Melanie, the veteran put aside the emotion of new fatherhood and lined up in Evandale’s surprise 18-point win over unbeaten flag favourite St Pats. 

“It’s been a whirlwind,” Black said after the game.

“It was a bit of an emotional sort of day (on Friday) having to juggle everything - the football club’s been fantastic in allowing me the time and being really patient with everything that’s been going on in my life at the moment.”

A senior footballer since 2002, Black called time on a Longford career of 150-plus games in 2016 to join the Eagles and kicked 36 goals in his first season at Morven Park.

The left-footer initially planned to sit out the 2018 season but was coaxed into a return by coach James Storay in round 13, allowing just enough time to qualify for finals.

Black, who was described by Storay as a vocal leader and ‘everything you could want in a full-back’, said it had been difficult to switch over from fatherhood to football finals in just one day. 

“It’s so hard, I’m a very emotional sort of a player too, I take everything so seriously,” Black said.

“I try to rev up my teammates, and to swap from being emotional like that at home with my family and then turn it into football aggression and all that sort of stuff - it’s difficult.

“I’ve had a daughter first, then two sons and my last daughter ... juggling this moment was very difficult because I wanted to play and my wife was booked in for a cesarean (Friday), and if everything didn’t go well I wouldn't have played.

“My wife is fantastic, she’s absolutely fantastic - she supports me 100 per cent.

“It’s unbelievable how much she supports me and I wouldn’t be in this situation if it wasn’t for her and my family - they’re very understanding of how much I love this game of football.”

As if the weekend hadn’t given enough already, Black still has more coming his way.

It mightn’t seem like much, but Black was thrilled at the prospect of playing a team other than George Town in a grand final.

“I’ve played in four losing grand finals to a couple of my teammates and I’ve finally got to the last dance so I cannot wait for this day to come.

“It’s a great football club, I’ve come back to finish my football career here - I can’t believe I’m in the last dance.” 

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