Gold Coast, Geelong and St Kilda are among the teams who are interested, with many more set to throw their hat in the ring.

Evans is seen as a running defender and on-baller with a ready-made physique for the top level. He can be selected as a Category B rookie because he hasn’t played any competitive football for more than three years.

He hasn’t strapped on the boots since his last year at Xavier College in 2018, where he played alongside Bailey Smith and against Riley West, James Rowbottom, Toby Bedford and the King twins.

Recruiters were keen on him at the time, but he was already contracted with Victoria and committed to cricket.

These same recruiters believe he would slot in seamlessly to a professional system.

Category B rookies are paid outside the salary cap and can be placed on AFL lists at any time of the year.

Mark Blicavs, Jack Buckley, and Mason Cox are examples of current players who were drafted via the Category B route.

Evans played 10 Big Bash League matches for the Renegades, with best figures of 5 for 33.

In 2023 he represented Essex at County 2nd XI level.

Evans’ likely defection to football follows Will Parker’s arrival at Collingwood as a Category B rookie in February.

Before Parker, Alex Keath was the most recent first class cricketer to sign on with an AFL club.

Clubs have long been keen on convincing former top teen Will Sutherland across to football, but Victoria’s Sheffield Shield captain is contracted and debuted for Australia earlier this year.