Stevens: Nothing was off limits

The tables were turned on Seven’s Chief AFL reporter Mark Stevens on Saturday when he was interviewed by former Nar Nar Goon premiership player Chris Cullinan. 169731 Pictures: RUSSELL BENNETT

By Russell Bennett

Each and every year the Nar Nar Goon football and netball sponsors and life members day seems to get bigger and better, and Saturday’s was no different.
The luncheon, held just prior to the senior football and netball clashes between the Goon and its biggest rival Cora Lynn, featured the Seven Network’s chief AFL reporter Mark Stevens and former Western Bulldogs player and St Kilda development coach Lindsay Gilbee, and it seemed no topic was off-limits – including Stevens’ icy relationship with former premiership-winning coach Mick Malthouse, and just what would go on behind the scenes of Australia’s International Rules tours of Ireland.
As has become tradition in recent times, 1980 Nar Nar Goon premiership player Chris Cullinan emceed the event with his own trademark brand of humour and he had the room – full of sponsors and beloved life members – in stitches.
Though he’d clearly prefer to devote much of the function to his premiership-winning escapades, on Saturday he took plenty of interest in Stevens’ journalist career before Stevens, himself, did what he does best and interviewed his great mate Gilbee.
Stevens grew up in Shepparton and worked at the Shepparton News in the 1980s before moving to Melbourne and working as a sub-editor and sports reporter for the Herald Sun before ultimately making the switch to Seven.
“Growing up in Shepparton it was similar to here (Nar Nar Goon),” he said.
“I played footy at Shepparton East with Dene Missen – the Nar Nar Goon vice president – who ran around with a mullet at centre-half back, moved pretty slowly, but tried hard!”
Stevens said the biggest story he’d broken in his career to date was when he was in Ireland when the south-east’s own Brendan Fevola put a headlock on a bouncer on an International Rules trip.
“We had to get the exclusive with Fev and in the end we found him in his (hotel) room and he did the tell-all story and, when you think about it, it was pretty big.
“He was kicked off the tour and it was a front page story.”
It wasn’t long, though, before Cullinan turned his attention to Stevens’ famous post-match press conference run-ins with Malthouse on Seven.
“Did you take particular delight in upsetting Mick,” he asked.
Stevens didn’t shy away from the answer.
“It didn’t start out that way, but I did take delight in it in the end,” he said.
“A lot of people ask if it was put-on or if it was all theatrics – if the hatred was real – but I can tell you it is real.
“He is a grumpy man, Mick, but they (Carlton) were losing games and in the end his demeanour with the press and the fact that he probably thought he was being set up played a role in the end of his career.
“It’s sad because, growing up a Bulldogs supporter, Mick was one of my heroes and I still think he’s a great coach.”
After Saturday’s function, Stevens and Gilbee were keen onlookers for the Goon’s senior clash with Cora Lynn, even listening intently to the coaches’ addresses to their players at quarter breaks.