Nick Stevens
Encyclopedia
Nick Stevens is a former Australian rules football
er in the Australian Football League
.
Originally from St Marys in the VMFL, Stevens was recruited in the 1997 AFL Draft
to the Port Adelaide Football Club
where he became a very prominent outside midfielder. In 1998, he was awarded the inaugural AFLPA Best First Year Player award
.
At the end of the 2003 season, Stevens expressed a desire to return to his native Melbourne and wished to be traded to Collingwood
. Port Adelaide was unable to obtain what it considered appropriate trade consideration and as a result, Stevens quit the club and entered the pre-season draft
. He was subsequently drafted by Carlton
with the second selection in that draft.
Stevens sustained a neck injury following a front-on collision with Melbourne
's David Neitz
in late 2006. He continued to play and train until early 2007. After Round 3, on advice from specialists, Stevens had surgery to heal a prolapsed disc in his neck, ending his season. This came as a major blow to Carlton, as Stevens had been in fantastic form through the pre-season and early rounds. On 23 August 2007, it was announced that Stevens had signed with the Blues until the end of 2010.
Stevens was named vice-captain of the club in 2007, a position he held until his retirement. Stevens has been involved in four pre-season premierships, with Port Adelaide in 2001 and 2002, and with Carlton in 2005 and 2007. He is the only man to have won more than one Michael Tuck Medal
s, winning the awards in 2002 for Port Adelaide and in 2007 for Carlton.
By his standards, Stevens had a poor season in 2009, struggling to make a strong impact in many games, and attracting criticism for deficiencies in his defensive game. At midseason, Stevens was dropped to the VFL for a few games. At the conclusion of the season, it was revealed that Stevens had sustained another, more serious, recurrence of his neck injury from 2007, most likely caused by a collision with captain Chris Judd
in Round 22; facing the risk of permanent spinal damage if he played on, Stevens officially announced his retirement on October 29th 2009 after 104 games for Carlton and 127 for Port Adelaide.
Following his retirement from AFL, Stevens is now focusing on expanding his business, NJS Signature Landscapes, in Melbourne.
In November 2011, Stevens was appointed Gippsland Power's coach for the 2012 season.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
Originally from St Marys in the VMFL, Stevens was recruited in the 1997 AFL Draft
1997 AFL Draft
The 1997 AFL Draft was held at the conclusion of the 1997 Australian Football League season. A pre-season draft was also held prior to the 1998 season....
to the Port Adelaide Football Club
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
where he became a very prominent outside midfielder. In 1998, he was awarded the inaugural AFLPA Best First Year Player award
AFLPA Awards
The AFL Players' Association Awards are a group of awards given annually to players in the Australian Football League, voted for by all AFL players.-Leigh Matthews Trophy:...
.
At the end of the 2003 season, Stevens expressed a desire to return to his native Melbourne and wished to be traded to Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. Port Adelaide was unable to obtain what it considered appropriate trade consideration and as a result, Stevens quit the club and entered the pre-season draft
2003 AFL Draft
The 2003 AFL Draft was the 2003 instance of the AFL Draft, the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League...
. He was subsequently drafted by Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
with the second selection in that draft.
Stevens sustained a neck injury following a front-on collision with Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
's David Neitz
David Neitz
David Neitz , nicknamed Neita, is a retired Australian rules footballer. The strongly built centre half back who became a full forward was the longest-serving captain in the history of the Melbourne Football Club and the first Melbourne player to achieve the 300-game milestone.Neitz was born in...
in late 2006. He continued to play and train until early 2007. After Round 3, on advice from specialists, Stevens had surgery to heal a prolapsed disc in his neck, ending his season. This came as a major blow to Carlton, as Stevens had been in fantastic form through the pre-season and early rounds. On 23 August 2007, it was announced that Stevens had signed with the Blues until the end of 2010.
Stevens was named vice-captain of the club in 2007, a position he held until his retirement. Stevens has been involved in four pre-season premierships, with Port Adelaide in 2001 and 2002, and with Carlton in 2005 and 2007. He is the only man to have won more than one Michael Tuck Medal
Michael Tuck Medal
Since 1992, the Michael Tuck Medal has been awarded to the best-and-fairest player in the AFL Pre-season Cup Final. It is named after Michael Tuck, the current AFL games record holder who played 426 senior matches for the Hawthorn Hawks between 1972 and 1991....
s, winning the awards in 2002 for Port Adelaide and in 2007 for Carlton.
By his standards, Stevens had a poor season in 2009, struggling to make a strong impact in many games, and attracting criticism for deficiencies in his defensive game. At midseason, Stevens was dropped to the VFL for a few games. At the conclusion of the season, it was revealed that Stevens had sustained another, more serious, recurrence of his neck injury from 2007, most likely caused by a collision with captain Chris Judd
Chris Judd
Christopher Dylan "Chris" Judd is a professional Australian rules footballer and current captain of the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
in Round 22; facing the risk of permanent spinal damage if he played on, Stevens officially announced his retirement on October 29th 2009 after 104 games for Carlton and 127 for Port Adelaide.
Following his retirement from AFL, Stevens is now focusing on expanding his business, NJS Signature Landscapes, in Melbourne.
In November 2011, Stevens was appointed Gippsland Power's coach for the 2012 season.