Koby Stevens Biography

Koby Stevens is forced into premature retirement after an ongoing battle with concussion.

"Prior to this year, I've hidden things before and gone out and played with symptoms, and that's just the person I was," Stevens said.

"I didn't like showing any signs of weakness and that's what I loved about the game, is that it's such a brutal game and something I'm going to miss.

"Looking back at it now, and everything that it's robbed me of the last three or four months, you've got to take care of your health first and concussion is a pretty serious issue."

Koby Stevens reveals the toll recent concussions have had on his life after he was ruled out for the remainder of the 2018 season.

Stevens suffered a head clash against Brisbane in round one before playing just six days later against North Melbourne on Good Friday, despite carrying symptoms into the game.

"I'd just come back into the side, so I obviously didn't want to speak up and we had a pretty big game that Friday against North Melbourne and I just went out and played," Stevens told Fox Footy.

"It wasn't until that next week when I was really bad, I felt really ill. It wasn't great, I went into the doctors and (sought) some more advice after that.

"We had a scan result come back that suggested that I did have changes to my brain. To have someone say there's been changes to my brain and they can't really tell you what they are, they're just there, it's tough."

Stevens had been spending short periods at RSEA Park before coming to a decision with the club to put a line through the rest of the season.

"It's a day-to-day thing. Some days I wake up and I'm pretty clear and then I try to do a little bit of exercise and as soon as my heart-rate gets up, I just get real chronic headache and pretty dizzy," he said.

Stevens also spoke of the alarming effects a round 21 head clash with fellow concussion victim Angus Brayshaw had on him last year.

Incredibly, after being ruled out of the match, he backed up the week later and played the final two matches of the season.

"I reckon that one was the worst one I've ever had. I wasn't knocked out, but it felt like a bomb had gone off," Stevens said.

"I couldn't hear anything, and it hit me right in the ear drum, so for about 10 to 15 minutes I had ringing in my ears.

"I quickly ran off after that but then something happened on the field. There was a quick sub that had to be made, so I just ran back out, but I had no balance.

"I was leaning to one side where I'd been hit and was about to fall over, so I knew something was pretty bad then."

Koby Stevens is ruled out for the rest of the 2018 season as he battles concussion.

"This last head knock has really shaken him up a bit and so he still isn't able to exercise at any sort of levels, so it's really uncertain as to when he'll be back," St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said.

"We just have to leave that in the hands of the doctors and make sure we support him, and that's what we're doing from a welfare perspective."

Koby Stevens is struggling to train as he battles concussion, with his indefinite absence from the field continuing.

"He's not particularly well at the moment, insofar as how he's feeling. It's certainly affected his concentration and a few headaches, and some other things," St Kilda's football manager Simon Lethlean said.

"He's being treated with a lot of caution but at the same time, with the intent that he works his way into coming back. Just not sure when it's going to be."

Koby Stevens faces an indefinite stint on the sidelines as he deals with what the Saints believe is delayed onset concussion.

Stevens suffered a head knock in round one against Brisbane, when he was one of his side's best after restricting star Lion Dayne Zorko to 14 disposals.

However, he didn't report anything that would spark fears of concussion and played the following week, before being dropped for round three and not playing any football that weekend as the senior side's carryover emergency.

"Koby won't return to training until the symptoms have subsided and he's given the all clear from our doctors," St Kilda football manager Simon Lethlean said.

Jack Stevens says hamstring problems plagued his 2017 season.

"It was just hammy tendon stuff. You're not injured but they're just there. It's just a bit annoying," Steven said.

Stevens also struggled to deal with attention from taggers in 2017, after being restricted to 22 or fewer disposals in eight of his 20 games.

"I don't really see myself as that good a player, but obviously someone does. You've just got to take it as a compliment and try to work through it," Steven said.

Koby Stevens suffers concussion and a burst ear drum after a head clash with Melbourne's Angus Brayshaw in the first quarter of the Demons' clash against the Saints.

The clash with Stevens was a frightening incident for Brayshaw, who has a history of concussion and was wearing a protective helmet.

Fortunately the Demons' midfielder bounced up to his feet after the shock of the hit wore off, and did not seem to be adversely affected by the knock.

Koby Stevens accepts a one-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Greater Western Sydney's Nathan Wilson.

Stevens' tackle on Wilson saw the defender leave the ground for a concussion test before returning to play out the game at Etihad Stadium.

St Kilda coach Alan Richardson hopes promoted recruit Koby Stevens can help solve some of the problems which have seen his team concede large numbers of goals in a hurry this season.

Stevens joined the Saints from the Western Bulldogs in the off-season, and will play his first game for the club against Hawthorn in Launceston this week.

"We haven't been great in contests (and) certainly the periods we've been beaten, we've been beaten at clearance and centre bounce," Richardson said.

"We think Koby Stevens will certainly be able to help us there.

"That's why we got Koby to the club. We think he can add a bit of depth and a bit of life."

Koby Stevens joins his third AFL club after St Kilda secured a last-minute trade with the Western Bulldogs.

The Saints receive Stevens, pick No.61 and a fourth-round selection in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft in exchange for pick No.50 and a fifth-round selection next year.

"We're confident he'll provide some physical support for our young developing midfielders, as well as players like (Jack) Steven and (David) Armitage," Saints chief operating officer Ameet Bains said of Stevens.

"With Koby's size, aggressive edge and ability to play forward we look forward to him making an impact as a Saint."

Koby Stevens requests a trade to St Kilda.

Stevens met with Saints coach Alan Richardson last week and chose Seaford as his new home ahead of an attractive offer from Essendon.

The future of off-contract Western Bulldogs midfielder Koby Stevens is up in the air as he considers finding a third AFL club.

The 25-year-old has played 63 games in four seasons with the Bulldogs after spending his first three years and 11 games with West Coast.

"We'll sit down with them to work out where things sit in the next couple of days and whether or not he re-commits there or looks elsewhere," Stevens' manager Ned Guy said.

"There has been interest in Koby, and a fair bit.

"We haven't progressed it any further other than we appreciate the interest and wanted him to get through the season."

Koby Stevens is in danger of missing the rest of the season after scans revealed he has a stress fracture in his foot.

Stevens is having a career-best season and it's expected he'll spend the next 6-8 weeks on the sidelines.

"Koby turned up late last week, certainly showed some signs of foot soreness so we checked that over the weekend and he's got a stress fracture in his heel bone, so he's going to be out for six to eight weeks at least," Bulldogs football manager Graham Lowe said.

Nat Fyfe Brownlow Medal prospects rest with the Match Review Panel after the Fremantle star was reported for tripping Western Bulldogs midfielder Koby Stevens.

Stevens says the trip was most likely an accident.

"I don't want a bloke like that to be suspended for something like that," Stevens said after the game.

"It just happens and it's accidental. I wouldn't think Fyfey would do that on purpose."

Koby Stevens' move home to Victoria has been vindicated after he signed a new two-year deal with the Western Bulldogs ahead of his 50th game.

"I didn't think that would ever come in my first two years (with the Eagles), being injured all the time and unable to break into the senior side," Stevens told the Herald Sun.

"It was a pretty tough couple of years over in Perth ... I didn't think I was close to making an AFL career of it.

"But when the chance came to come home I met up with Macca and took the opportunity straight away. It's been really good."

New Bulldog Koby Stevens is working hard to establish himself as a run-and-carry midfielder, which he says is more suited to his natural game.

"A lot of people might not know that when I was drafted as a 17-year-old, I was actually more of an outside player," Stevens said.

"My body finally feels AFL-ready. Hopefully after one more pre-season I'll be flying and I can shoot forward as well and play at half-forward and wing. Back when I was fit and firing, that's where I was playing."

Eagles midfielder Koby Stevens joins the Dogs in exchange for a second-round draft pick.

"Koby is a high-quality person, with outstanding training habits, and will add depth to the club's midfield," Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney said.

"His big, strong body, along with a terrific attitude to his football, make him a great acquisition to our football club."

West Coast midfielder Koby Stevens has nominated the Western Bulldogs as his preferred trade destination.

Koby Stevens has told the club he wants a trade and will play football elsewhere in 2013.

"That's extremely disappointing because we saw him as an important player in a developing midfield," West Coast list manager Craig Vozzo said about Stevens' decision.

"Koby is a young player with some terrific attributes and we had hoped he would remain with our club to be a part of what we believe we are building towards.

"Having said that, we understand and respect Koby's decision, and will work to ensure a suitable outcome for all parties."

Young West Coast midfielder Koby Stevens could seek a trade from the Eagles after struggling for game time this season.

"Koby's no different to a lot of young guys - if they don't get opportunity, obviously they've got to have a look at where they're going to play," West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett said.

"We rate him very highly. He's a good, hard player. Hopefully we will retain him. If we don't, we'll have to look at a trade for him."

Highly-rated youngster Koby Stevens is finally fully fit, and has been one of the Eagles' standouts this pre-season.

"I didn't feel like I'd recovered from my OP completely until halfway through last year, so it's good to finally get a lot of my speed back," he said.

"When I had OP I was really debilitated with my power, so that's improved out of sight. The body's feeling really good and powerful. It's great."

Koby Stevens makes his AFL debut for West Coast with 11 disposals (7 kicks and 4 handballs), a mark and 3 tackles in a 60-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.

A love of the style of football played by the Selwoods has West Coast draftee Koby Stevens looking forward to joining forces with Adam and Scott.

"I've always idolised the Selwood brothers and to be over here with two of them is pretty cool," Stevens said.

"The way they go about their footy, I think they're really professional and they're hard at it. I saw them out there training today and they were just going for it".