Nick Stevens slammed for ‘victim blaming’ in Sam Newman podcast

Nick Stevens has opened up about his past in a podcast with Sam Newman, but the disgraced former footy star was slammed for trying to play the victim.

Domestic violence activist Phil Cleary has slammed former AFL player Nick Stevens for attempting to play the victim during a podcast interview.

Stevens spoke to Sam Newman and Don Scott this week with a highly edited version of their interview going to air.

Stevens, who hit the headlines in 2016 over allegations concerning an ex-girlfriend, Laima McKenna, said he paid the “ultimate price” and pleaded for a chance to move on.

Former AFL player Nick Stevens. Picture: AAP

Cleary said: “If Nick Stevens wants to get on with his life, I’d suggest he makes an unqualified apology for what he did to Laima McKenna. I met Laima and heard her story and suspect she doesn’t want or need anything from him. There was only one victim.

“If Stevens wants men to break bread with him, he will need to kiss goodbye to the victim blaming.”

Cleary said he was baffled that Stevens was given a platform. McKenna declined to comment.

Newman defended his chat with Stevens, which he said was balanced, but due to legal reasons “a hell of a lot” was left out.

“It was a very explosive interview and his intent was to give his explanation,’’ Newman said.

“We don’t want to be the broadcasting medium that incurs any litigation.

“At no stage did we condone or back or go easy on him. We never edit interviews or make judgment, we just asked questions we thought people would like to know and the answers we couldn’t put to air would have been of more interest.

“He’s hoping to change the perception of people who have an ordinary opinion of him.”

Domestic violence activist Phil Cleary says he’s baffled that Stevens was given a platform. Picture: AAP

Stevens said he had paid his dues for past indiscretions.

“I apologise for my behaviour at the time, I really do,’’ Stevens said on the You Cannot Be Serious podcast.

“And I’ve made mistakes and I’m sure she will be the first to admit the same.

“I’ve paid my dues.

“I’ve had some horrendous things happen.

“I’ve paid the ultimate price. I’m not asking for forgiveness, I’m asking for a chance to move on with my life. Not so much for me but my family and friends. My parents, do you think this doesn’t kill them?”

He added: “I hope that people understand from this, (it) isn’t me saying try to feel sorry for me.”

Don Scott and Sam Newman. Picture: Instagram

Stevens said he was now working in civil construction and was engaged to marry a new partner next year, but was disappointed that he was unable to continue footy coaching.

Stevens played 231 AFL games over an 11 year career with Port Adelaide and Carlton.

“Life’s really good,’’ he said.

“Probably the one thing that’s missing in my life that if I could have had back to some extent would just be coaching at local level football because coaching was a passion of mine for years and something I wanted to make full time.

“I’ve also understood that with the bad publicity I’ve had along the way that it’s made things very difficult and the AFL still to this day will not allow me to get my coaching accreditation back.

“I’ll be going to court over it. They’ve stopped my capacity to earn a living. There’s been plenty of interest out there, not at AFL level. At the end of every year I would have had between five to eight coaching opportunities based on being able to get my accreditation.

“That’s my argument, is you’ve done the crime you’ve done the time regardless of who you are. There’s a justice system to deal with the justice system so why does the AFL feel the right now to single out certain individuals and not allow them to coach. That’s my argument.”

Stevens said: “How long does someone have to pay the price for?

“If you’re in the limelight you take the good with the bad. I’ve had very good publicity and also very bad publicity. You put your hand out to take the big money, you’re public property, I understand that.”

Stevens said he had approached the AFL and AFL Players Association about turning his experience into a positive by going to speak to clubs.