From watching his Dad play to following in the footsteps of his older brother, family has always been at the centre of George Stevens footballing journey.

Growing up just 50 metres away from his home ground at South Warrnambool, Stevens started out his junior career with the Roosters, a club that had previously produced players like Jonathan Brown and Wayne Schwass. In the midst of a decorated junior football resume, the young midfielder developed a passion for the game and ultimately decided to pursue it professionally. 

But once again in amongst a plethora of accolades, family was the cornerstone for Stevens.

The final highlight and the cherry on top of his underage career came back where it all started, with George playing in a premiership for South Warrnambool alongside older brother, Archie. The fairytale finish was only made possible by external circumstances, which meant that the brothers were both eligible to pull on the Roosters guernsey in the Grand Final. 

Stevens reminisced on his earliest memories of football, when he sat down with Cats Media to provide insight into his journey to Geelong. 

"I was always around footy. My Dad played a lot of footy when I was a kid and I have an older brother, Archie who is two years older than me and whatever he did I copied, from a young age he loved the game as well," Stevens told Cats Media. 

"I don't think there was a specific moment where I thought that I wanted to live this out and make it my job, but being a kid I always had a footy in my hand.

"Particularly in the lounge room at home, I would compete with my brother and things like that.

"That just lead me to love the game, then once I got a bit older and started playing multiple sports, my love for footy overrode my other passions.

"That is where I thought when I was around 13 or 14, that I would love to take footy a step further."

Once players hit the top level of a given sport it is easy to forget that their career started out just like everyone else, trying to find their feet as a youngster at a grassroots club. 

For Stevens he recognises the importance that South Warrnambool had on his career, making sure not to forget that fact now that he has commenced his AFL journey. 

"My junior career was massive, I think it is a little bit underestimated at AFL level with just how important it is," Stevens said. 

"Once you get to the top level you see everyone as AFL players, but we tend to forget how we go there in the first place.

"I think that is the biggest thing, recognising local clubs like South Warrnambool for myself, that is where it all started and that is where you learn to love the game and learn the fundamentals of what is required.

"I had some unbelievable coaches and I am still in touch with some unbelievable people at the footy club, that taught me not only certain skills of football that I have taken into my career here, but also how to be a good clubman and how to be respectful around a sporting environment."

Drafted by the Cats in 2023, Stevens put together a strong opening season at VFL level but has taken his game to greater heights early in 2025. 

Across Geelong's first four games the tough on-baller is averaging 27 disposals and five tackles per game, particularly showing an incredible skill around stoppages winning an average of nine clearances per game. Equally as important has been Stevens ability to have an impact heading forward, registering 16 score involvements across the last three weeks. 

Progressing through his second season with Geelong, Stevens credited his draft class for their competitive drive and will to succeed which is helping the group to grow together. 

"It has been amazing here so far, we have got such a great group of young boys," Stevens detailed. 

"Everyone used to talk about how old we are, but we have been able to gel really quickly.

"I think that has been the most important thing for us second year players now, I am really close with the group of boys that I was drafted with. We have created a really good, competitive connection while we are at the Club and we strive to get better with each other and work hard towards that.

"Then hopefully that lifts the motivation of the older guys too that are still trying to get the most out of themselves. I have absolutely loved my time so far, there are so many amazing people here, some coaches that I now consider friends and they are unbelievable in giving their knowledge out to the players."

Stevens singled out a number of players in particular that have helped him with his development, spending plenty of time with some other emerging talents that are part of the Cats next generation. 

"I think when I got here, as every draftee would, I picked out the main players on the list that have been performing for a long period of time. As a midfielder, I tried to watch Paddy Dangerfield really closely and take bits and pieces from him.

"You learn to connect with people that are a lot closer to you, and people that you can relate to a lot more.

"Guys like Mitch Knevitt, Jhye Clark, Ted Clohesy and those younger midfielders that are around my age, that have experienced things that I am going through currently. I think you can relate to them a lot easier and have those two way conversations, I feel more than comfortable asking those guys questions."