Geelong midfielder George Stevens reflects on AFL debut, biding his time in the VFL and influence of development coach Nigel Lappin
Geelong unveiled its second debutant of the season on Saturday night - and the young Cat didn’t shrug his chance, or the contest, after an 18-month apprenticeship in the VFL.
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George Stevens proved he might just be worth the wait.
The 20-year-old midfielder, forced to wait in line in the VFL for 18 months since he was taken with pick 58 in the 2023 draft, didn’t let his opportunity slip after finally breaking into a hard-to-crack Cats’ line-up against Richmond on Saturday.
With the Cats often lacking that bigger-bodied midfielder, Stevens’ inclusion was well-received by Cats fans who were hoping he’d translate his consistently strong VFL numbers onto the AFL stage.
And his first performance didn’t disappoint, Stevens finishing with 21 disposals at 85.7 per cent efficiency, eight clearances and 14 score involvements.
A comprehensive second quarter by Geelong – which included Stevens’ first AFL goal – put the Tigers to bed by half time, and gave the debutant a chance to take stock of a whirlwind 36 hours after first learning of his debut on Friday morning.
“Unbelievable. Everything you dream of as a kid,” Stevens reflected post-match.
“To have it go our way tonight... you’ve got a good lead, you can really soak it in and I felt that, the ability to kind of soak in that last quarter … unbelievable experience and something that I’m forever grateful for.
“It’ll go down as the best day of my life, I reckon.”
Geelong coach Chris Scott revealed he liked what he saw in George Stevens’ performance during his post-match press conference.
“It’s rare for a very young player to come in, makes his debut, play virtually as a permanent on-baller against seasoned players – you can disregard Richmond’s ladder position when it comes to their midfield, you’re talking (Dion) Prestia, (Tim) Taranto, (Jacob) Hopper, (Toby) Nankervis is in there,” Scott said.
“George looked at home... they’re high expectations from us but we were confident he could deliver on that.”
Similar to the Cats’ first term, Stevens took a quarter to work himself into the game, though the South Warrnambool product didn’t look out of place thereafter.
“It’s a quick game of footy, it’s very much a step up, so I had to sort of get the speed of the game in the first quarter and then once I found that rhythm, I was able to run the patterns that were asked of me,” he said.
“Most of my work’s done in the contest, so I was just trying to play to my strengths.”
Those weapons included an elite kick and his physical strength around the ball, while he regularly found the right target by hand and foot.
His maiden goal in the second quarter proved a highlight – Stevens letting out an emotional shout before he was quickly mobbed by his teammates – though it was his actions minutes earlier, when he withstood a tackle in the centre of the ground to dish off to teammate Max Holmes for a running goal from outside 50m, which also sparked applause from an impressed crowd.
It was one of 14 score involvements from Stevens – the most of any Cat on Saturday.
“Honestly, the goal that I got was all thanks to Shaun Mannagh as well, so that play to Max, like that’s the stuff I work on, that’s my strength in the contest,” he said.
“So the boys celebrated that probably more than the goal, which goes to show what we value at the footy club, those acts and the players that set up the goals and exact same with Shaun – Shaun set me up twice, I let him down that second one hitting the post.
“But honestly, those boys out there tonight looked after me so well and it’s a credit to all them because I had a lot of care for me tonight.”
Patience is a virtue
A humble Stevens didn’t appear dismayed about having to do his time in the VFL.
He’d been an AFL emergency a handful of times this season, including this week, before his opening came on Friday morning following Tyson Stengle’s withdrawal.
Asked how he felt waiting in the wings for a year-and-a-half, Stevens instead pointed to his privileged position of walking into the Cattery every day with football as his day job.
“I’ve got people that are in my close corners that have dreamt of this their whole lives and haven’t been able to do it, so each day I come in, I’m so grateful to be here,” Stevens said.
“I just try and work hard, you know, people could say that I’ve waited 18 months, but it’s just been about being patient and this footy club’s amazing at what they do in terms of developing us boys, and especially us younger lads and people put a lot of time and effort into us.
“To be honest, the VFL’s a great system, I had a lot of fun over the past – and still do – have a lot of fun in the VFL program.
“It’s not hard when you’re missing out because you get to go back and play with some pretty close mates as well.
“But it’s a pretty nice feeling now knowing that I’ve ticked that (first AFL game) off.”
The makings of the midfielder
If there’s one person Stevens could point to as being crucial to his journey at Kardinia Park thus far, it’s development coach Nigel Lappin.
“The boys laugh a bit that Nigel and I have a pretty close relationship, some would say a bit too tight, father-son tight,” Stevens said with a laugh.
“But I honestly love him and all the work he’s done for me.”
It hasn’t just been the time and effort Lappin has put into Stevens which has meant the most – the midfielder pointing to the former Lion’s genuine care for him as a person too.
“The mix of both has been unbelievable for me, and we’ve created a really good connection from that.
“I can say probably that’s honestly led to where I’ve gotten to tonight at the Cats, his work he’s done for me, with Harry Corrigan, the head coach of the VFL... the development roles that they play, seriously unbelievable and I can’t thank them enough.”
Stevens never likes to miss a moment to thank his home club South Warrnambool too, many a Rooster making the trip up the Princes Highway on Saturday to witness his first game.
“Out on the field tonight, in front of 30,000-odd or whatever it is, we’re all by-products of something, where we’ve started,” he said.
“For me my second family was at South Warrnambool footy club.
“I love the club, just as much as this (Geelong) footy club.”
Originally published as Geelong midfielder George Stevens reflects on AFL debut, biding his time in the VFL and influence of development coach Nigel Lappin
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