Nick Stevens Biography

Nick Stevens has been granted bail just hours after being jailed for domestic abuse.

Lawyers for the former Carlton and Port Adelaide star are appealing his eight-month jail sentence and conviction for bashing and threatening his ex-girlfriend.

Stevens, 35, was found guilty of smashing his ex-girlfriend's face into a kitchen bench and threatening to kill her and her father.

He will return to court in April.

Magistrate Nunzio La Rosa said Stevens had shown no remorse for the sustained violence against the victim, and general deterrence was important in matters of domestic violence.

"It became evident that you would not hesitate to manipulate the victim both psychologically and emotionally," Magistrate La Rosa said.

Glenelg has sacked senior coach Nick Stevens, the former Carlton and Port Adelaide midfielder, after he was found guilty in a Melbourne court of multiple assault charges.

In a statement on its website, the SANFL club said, "As a proud family based community club we wish to make it very clear that we do not condone or tolerate domestic violence in any form."

Nick Stevens has been found guilty of assaulting and threatening to kill a woman he was in relationship with, but the bulk of charges against him have been thrown out.

Stevens faced the Ringwood Magistrates Court on Thursday for a decision on allegations he hit, kicked and shoved an ex-girlfriend while they were together in 2012 and 2013.

He was also accused of criminal damage, making threats to kill and injure her and making threats to kill her father.

Stevens denied all of charges.

Magistrate Nunzio La Rosa said he had to dismiss charges arising from several of the seven alleged incidents, but added he found the victim's testimony to be consistent and convincing.

"I was impressed with the complainant and the manner in which she gave her evidence," Magistrate La Rosa said.

"I accept the complainant as truthful."

Former Carlton and Port Adelaide midfielder Nick Stevens has been appointed coach of SANFL club Glenelg for the next two years.

"The way he presented was exceptional,'' Glenelg president Nick Chigwidden said.

"He was very clear on what his football philosophies are and how he feels he can build a program to make things happen.

"To us he's got really strong people and managerial skills as well as a really strong football background."

Carlton midfielder Nick Stevens has announced a sudden finish to his career following medical advice of the risks of playing on with a serious neck injury.

"It is very disappointing to have my career end due to injury. Retirement is not something I had been thinking about but I have no option due to the neck injury," Stevens said in a statement.

"After consulting with the specialist, the club doctor and the club as well as discussions with my family, I realised the risk in continuing to play football is far too great so the decision was forced on me."

Nick Stevens says he is accepting the fact that he may never play football again or risk serious damage to his neck that could make him a quadriplegic.

"If I give it away now and rest up, I'll be fine for later in life, but if I don't do that I'm a big chance to end up in a wheelchair," Stevens said.

Carlton has moved to quash rumours that a neck injury will force Nick Stevens to quit football.

"We have met with Nick and had discussions with the medical team regarding his future and at this stage no decision has been made on his immediate playing future," chief executive Greg Swann said.

"Nick overcame a serious neck injury in 2007 to return to AFL and he has continued to have regular scans on his neck to ensure he is right to play.

"Obviously if the medical team has any doubts about Stevens continuing his career, both Nick and the club will be guided by the recommendations."

Nick Stevens' career is in doubt and may be forced into early retirement by a serious neck injury.

He is suspected to have suffered an injury against Adelaide in round 22 in the same area as the prolapsed disc that caused him grief in 2007.

Former Richmond coach Terry Wallace accuses several Carlton players of being downhill skiers after they were comprehensively beaten by Adelaide.

"Carlton have got some midfielders who've got to learn how to defend, they only want to play one direction and I'm quite happy to name them. I think (Marc) Murphy, (Heath) Scotland, (Nick) Stevens, (Chris) Judd - those four guys just don't defend," Wallace said on SEN.

Carlton coach Brett Ratten did not agree with Wallace's assessment of his playing group.

"I heard a little bit of it. That's up to Terry. That's his opinion and he can have it," a Ratten said.

"Terry may have made an observation that was part of last week's game, but I don't think you can put that down to a season's performance.

"It's very unfair to our group."

Nick Stevens has worked on the right areas and looks set for an AFL return after being solid with the Northern Bullants in the VFL, says Brett Ratten.

"He's gone back and worked fairly hard on his game and tried to get some of that run back, which we saw last week," Ratten said.

"I think it's all about what the player has to do to play at senior level and Nick has worked hard at that. Last week he was in the mix, but this week he's put a big case forward to be selected."

Carlton assistant Mark Riley says Nick Stevens is a chance to play on Friday night in the blockbuster against the Magpies after spending the last two weeks playing for the Northern Bullants in the VFL since being dropped by the Blues after round 13.

"He trained this morning and he is under consideration. We know Nick's best is very good and we're all working to get him back to his very best," Riley said.

Carlton coach Brett Ratten says midfielder Nick Stevens' weight was also a factor when he was dropped three weeks ago.

Stevens has spent the past three weeks at the lower level since his omission following the Blues' loss to Essendon in round 13.

"I think all players in the situation are a little bit frustrated. You'd like to be playing senior footy and getting 30 touches each week and a couple of goals and best on ground and have it just working perfectly, but that's the game itself," Ratten said.

"His form hadn't been great, so he's just gone back and he's working on his game."

Carlton coach Brett Ratten still remains undecided on when to recall experienced midfielders Nick Stevens and Heath Scotland since the pair were dropped after a round 13 loss to Essendon.

Carlton assistant coach Brett Montgomery says Nick Stevens and Heath Scotland are in the Blues mix for next week after the pair were overlooked for selection against Richmond despite performing well in the VFL.

"There's no room for them this week, but that's not to say, even with their week off from Bullants' duties, that that will be the case next week," Montgomery said.

"It might be our role to perhaps talk them through ways of getting back in, building them up and giving them options and alternatives to improve their game. I think both guys have taken it extremely well."

Carlton coach Brett Ratten says Nick Stevens and Heath Scotland still have to earn back their places despite strong performances in the VFL after being dropped from the side to face Fremantle.

"They are in the mix. They're quality players but we just went with a different team structure. We'll have to see how we go at the selection table," Ratten said.

Cartlton rushes Nick Stevens back from suspension for their clash with Essendon.

A quirk of the VFL fixture will give suspended Carlton star Nick Stevens crucial match practice before his Round 3 AFL return.

Carlton faces an agonising decision on whether to fight another suspension to experienced defender Nick Stevens.

Carlton's Nick Stevens will risk being sidelined until round four by contesting a striking charge.

Nick Stevens will miss the Blues' first two games after the star Carlton midfielder received a mixed result at the tribunal.

Magpie Chris Bryan is in the clear for his bump on Joel Selwood, but Blue Nick Stevens has copped a one-match ban.

Carlton's Nick Stevens has racked up the most pre-season games of all current AFL players.

Carlton midfielder Nick Stevens has revealed he had weekly pain-killing injections in his thumb for two years.

Carlton's Nick Stevens has been attending a health retreat in Warrnambool this week as part of a varied build-up to the 2009 season.

Chris Judd is named as Carlton captain for season 2008 while Nick Stevens is named as his deputy.

Blues coach Brett Ratten says it was a close call between Judd and Stevens for the captaincy.

"It's been a tough one for the match committee and it was pretty close," Ratten said.

"You reflect on what Chris has done as a captain already and it puts him just in front of Nick."

Judd admitted it was a unique situation to be appointed skipper despite not having yet played a game for the Blues.

"It is an unusual way to go about things, but the opportunity is there now, and I'd be silly to walk away from it," Judd said.

"I just felt it was a huge privilege to be able to captain this footy club. Obviously, I haven't been here for a long time, but I'm looking forward to a long union with the footy club and the leadership group and Nick."

Nick Stevens says it was disappointing to miss out on the captaincy but that Judd was a deserving skipper.

"I would have loved to have captained the club, but on the other hand, it's a great honour to be vice-captain as well, and I guess with Juddy, there's no greater man you could lose it to," Stevens said.

Brett Ratten appoints Nick Stevens as captain of the Blues for the NAB Cup match against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium while star recruit Chris Judd is still being nursed by the club to be ready for Round 1 of the regular season.