Western Magpies have added another signing as they prepare to return to AFL QLD State League Division 1 competition in 2009 in the form of Matt Stevens who is returning to Queensland following a short but successful stint in Western Australia.
The nuggety in and under specialist hailing originally from Bundaberg will be an outstanding addition to the Western Magpies midfield in the Velocity Sports Cup. Not many people in Brisbane would be aware of Stevens as he has never played here extensively but his last 4 years of football speak for themselves.
The sequence began in 2005 when playing for his home club Across the Waves Bundaberg Eagles in the AFL Bundaberg Wide Bay competition in which ATW lost the Grand Final to traditional rival Hervey Bay Bombers however earlier in the week had won the Stedman Medal for AFL BWB Best and Fairest.
In 2006 when the Grand Final rolled around it was once again ATW facing off against the Bombers who were looking for the perfect season going into Grand Final day undefeated and raging favorites. Stevens who had won his second straight Stedman Medal earlier in the week was the driving force for an unlikely upset and completed the Triple Crown adding a Premiership Medal and the Best on Ground Award to his 2006 achievements.
A move to Brisbane in 2007 proved unsuccessful with no football played until he returned home to Bundaberg to play in half a dozen matches and with no base was unable to provide the inspiration he did the previous year in the Grand Final with the Bombers getting their revenge for the 2006 defeat.
In 2008 Stevens seeking a new challenge moved to Western Australia and played for the Keller/Tammin Football Club in the Avon Football Association. In another outstanding season Stevens represented the Avon FA in the Western Australian Country Championships then went on to win the Caffel-Dowding Medal for Keller/Tammin Best and Fairest and then followed up with the Byfield-Stacey Medal for the Best and Fairest in the Avon Football Association.
Stevens will be reunited at the Magpies with James Rozynski who was his team mate in the 1999 Country Queensland U/14 Team and played together for the Kookaburras during their junior careers and the Coach of that team now Western Magpies Club Development Manager Anthony McDonald.
McDonald said, “Matt’s achievements over the last 4 years winning 3 League B+F Medals has been outstanding however for someone who has known his ability since a junior I am rapt that Stevo is finally going to challenge himself at State League Level”.
“Swoop 09”
Last Modified on 08/12/2008 16:38
