Nicola Stevens

Nicola Stevens (born 24 March 1993) is an Australian rules footballer playing for St Kilda in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She previously played for Collingwood in 2017 and for Carlton in 2018–2022. Stevens was selected in the inaugural AFL Women's All-Australian team and was the inaugural Collingwood best and fairest winner during her only season with the Magpies in 2017.

Nicola Stevens
Stevens playing for Carlton in 2018
Personal information
Full name Nicola Stevens
Date of birth (1993-03-24) 24 March 1993
Place of birth Brunswick, Victoria
Original team(s) Melbourne University (VFLW)
Draft No. 6, 2016 national draft
Debut Round 1, 2017, Collingwood vs. Carlton, at Ikon Park
Height 174 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current club St Kilda
Number 2
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2017 Collingwood 07 0(0)
2018–2022 Carlton 42 (20)
2022– St Kilda 10 0(4)
Total 59 (24)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
2017 Victoria 1 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the S7 (2022) season.
2 State and international statistics correct as of 2017.
Career highlights
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Stevens grew up supporting the Essendon Football Club, having had two family members (both life members) involved at the club at different capacities. Stevens started playing Auskick and played local football throughout her childhood.[1] In 2013, Stevens began playing for Melbourne University in the Victorian Women's Football League (VWFL), now the VFL Women's (VFLW).[2]

Stevens was selected eighteenth overall by Western Bulldogs in the inaugural women's draft in 2013. She continued to play for the Bulldogs in AFL exhibition games in three of the next four seasons,[3] missing the 2014 season with a knee injury.[4]

AFL Women's career

Collingwood (2017)

Stevens was drafted by Collingwood with their first selection, sixth overall, in the 2016 AFL Women's draft.[5] Inaugural Magpies coach Wayne Siekman considered Stevens to be "the best defender in the draft".[2] She made her debut in the inaugural AFL Women's match against Carlton at Ikon Park.[6] Stevens was selected in the inaugural AFL Women's All-Australian team[7] and was announced as Collingwood's inaugural best-and-fairest winner after a consistent first season.[5] On 2 September, Stevens played for Victoria in the inaugural AFL Women's State of Origin match.[8]

Carlton (2018–2022)

In May 2017, Stevens was traded to Carlton, along with Collingwood's fourth-round draft selection, in exchange for Carlton's first, second and third draft selections in the 2017 AFL Women's draft.[9][10] Stevens had a quiet first season at Carlton, but kicked her first career goal in round 2 against Greater Western Sydney at Drummoyne Oval.[11] She also played for Carlton's VFL Women's team in its inaugural season in the competition.[12] Stevens re-signed with Carlton during the trade and signing period in May 2018.[13] She signed a 2-year contract with Carlton on 10 June 2021, after it was revealed the team had conducted a mass re-signing of 13 players.[14]

St Kilda (2022–present)

In May 2022, Stevens was traded to St Kilda for a first round compensation pick, marking the first trade of the window.[15]

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of round 1, 2019.[16]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2017 Collingwood 2170050176723220.00.07.12.49.63.33.12
2018 Carlton 2171141165711230.20.25.92.38.11.63.30
2019 Carlton 21100729120.00.07.02.09.01.02.0
Career 15 1 1 98 35 133 35 47 0.1 0.1 6.5 2.3 8.9 2.3 3.1 2

Honours and achievements

Individual

References
  1. "#14 Nicola Stevens - Victorian Women's Football League - SportsTG". SportsTG. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  2. Schönafinger, Josh (12 October 2016). "Welcome to Collingwood: Nicola Stevens - collingwoodfc.com.au". Collingwood Football Club. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  3. Matthews, Bruce (3 March 2016). "Women's footy: The long pre-season is over". AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  4. Olle, Sarah (6 October 2016). "AFL Women's draft, Nicola Stevens tipped to go in top five draft picks despite ACL injury". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  5. Lechucki, Meagan (29 March 2017). "Stevens claims first best-and-fairest". collingwoodfc.com.au. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  6. Guthrie, Ben (3 February 2017). "Blue ribbon day for AFLW as Carlton downs Collingwood". afl.com.au. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  7. Navaratnam, Dinny (28 March 2017). "Lions, Crows dominate AFLW All Australian team". afl.com.au. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  8. Black, Sarah (2 September 2017). "AFLW: Daisy stands tall as Big V dominates". afl.com.au. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  9. Lechucki, Meagan (16 May 2017). "AFLW: Stevens traded to arch rival". Collingwoodfc.com.au. Telstra Media.
  10. Olle, Sarah (20 May 2017). "Nicola Stevens opens up on being the first ever player traded in AFLW history". Fox Sports.
  11. Stuart, Riley (9 February 2018). "AFLW: Blues topple Giants after storm delay". afl.com.au. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  12. Balales, Danielle (3 May 2018). "VFLW list finalised". carltonfc.com.au. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  13. Black, Sarah (31 May 2018). "AFLW: Blues lock away star pair". afl.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 June 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  14. Black, Sarah (10 June 2021). "List changes: Dogs lose their Spark, Pies swoop on big Blue". AFL Women's Media. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  15. "Stevens joins the Saints". St Kilda. Telstra. 31 May 2022.
  16. "Nicola Stevens". Australian Football. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
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