Australian Football

Hailing from the Waaia Football Club in the Picola and District Football League, Anthony Stevens began his league career with North Melbourne in 1989 as a tough, no-nonsense tagger before developing into one of the key playmakers in a Kangaroos side destined for greatness. An inspirational player who invariably came to the fore when the going was tough, Stevens was described by Essendon's Gary O'Donnell as "the lifeblood of the (North) side". He was one of the best players afield when the 'Roos beat Sydney by 43 points in the 1996 Grand Final, and also played in the 1999 premiership team against Carlton.

A regular Victorian representative player during the mid-1990s, Anthony Stevens achieved AFL All Australian selection in 1998. He won the club's best and fairest award in 1997 and 1999. He retired at the end of the 2004 season having played 292 V/AFL games and kicked 127 goals. In 2003 he was chosen as first ruck-rover in the Kangaroos' official 'Team of the Twentieth Century', and in 2017 his playing feats were recognised when he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Author - John Devaney