Nicola Stevens Explained

Nicola Stevens
Fullname:Nicola Stevens
Birth Date:24 March 1993
Birth Place:Brunswick, Victoria
Originalteam: (VFLW)
Draftpick:No. 6, 2016 national draft
Height:174 cm
Debutdate:Round 1, 2017
Debutstadium:Ikon Park
Position:Defender
Guernsey:2
Years1:2017
Games Goals1:7 (0)
Years2:2018–2022
Games Goals2:42 (20)
Years3:2022–
Games Goals3:20 (4)
Games Goalstotal:69 (24)
Statsend:the 2023 season
Sooyears1:2017
Sooteam1:Victoria
Soogames Goals1:1 (0)
Repstatsend:2017
Careerhighlights:

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.

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 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 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 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 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 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]

|- style="background:#EAEAEA"| scope="row" text-align:center | 2017| | 21 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 50 || 17 || 67 || 23 || 22 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 7.1 || 2.4 || 9.6 || 3.3 || 3.1 || 2|- | scope="row" text-align:center | 2018| | 21 || 7 || 1 || 1 || 41 || 16 || 57 || 11 || 23 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 5.9 || 2.3 || 8.1 || 1.6 || 3.3 || 0|- style="background:#EAEAEA"| scope="row" text-align:center | 2019| | 21 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 7 || 2 || 9 || 1 || 2 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 7.0 || 2.0 || 9.0 || 1.0 || 2.0 || |- class="sortbottom"! colspan=3 | 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

Notes and References

  1. Web site:
    1. 14 Nicola Stevens - Victorian Women's Football League - SportsTG
    . SportsTG. 2 April 2017. en.
  2. Web site: Schönafinger. Josh. Welcome to Collingwood: Nicola Stevens - collingwoodfc.com.au. Collingwood Football Club. 2 April 2017. 12 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20190407044736/https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/2016-10-12/welcome-to-collingwood-nicola-stevens. 7 April 2019. dead.
  3. Web site: Matthews. Bruce. Women's footy: The long pre-season is over. AFL.com.au. Telstra Media. 2 April 2017. 3 March 2016.
  4. Web site: Olle. Sarah. AFL Women’s draft, Nicola Stevens tipped to go in top five draft picks despite ACL injury. Fox Sports. 2 April 2017. 6 October 2016.
  5. Web site: Lechucki. Meagan. Stevens claims first best-and-fairest. collingwoodfc.com.au. 29 March 2017. 2 April 2017.
  6. News: Guthrie. Ben. Blue ribbon day for AFLW as Carlton downs Collingwood. afl.com.au. 3 February 2017. 31 May 2018.
  7. News: Navaratnam. Dinny. Lions, Crows dominate AFLW All Australian team. afl.com.au. 28 March 2017. 2 April 2017.
  8. News: Black. Sarah. AFLW: Daisy stands tall as Big V dominates. afl.com.au. 2 September 2017. 31 May 2018.
  9. News: AFLW: Stevens traded to arch rival. Meagan. Lechucki. Collingwoodfc.com.au. Telstra Media. 16 May 2017.
  10. Web site: Nicola Stevens opens up on being the first ever player traded in AFLW history. Sarah. Olle. Fox Sports. 20 May 2017.
  11. News: Stuart. Riley. AFLW: Blues topple Giants after storm delay. afl.com.au. 9 February 2018. 31 May 2018.
  12. News: Balales. Danielle. VFLW list finalised. carltonfc.com.au. 3 May 2018. 31 May 2018.
  13. News: Black. Sarah. AFLW: Blues lock away star pair. https://web.archive.org/web/20180602002653/http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-05-31/aflw-sign-and-trade-period. dead. 2 June 2018. afl.com.au. 31 May 2018. 31 May 2018.
  14. Web site: List changes: Dogs lose their Spark, Pies swoop on big Blue. 10 June 2021. Black. Sarah. 11 June 2021. AFL Women's Media.
  15. Web site: Stevens joins the Saints. Telstra. St Kilda. 31 May 2022.
  16. Web site: Nicola Stevens. Australian Football. 3 February 2019.