LAVINGTON captain Kade Stevens has pretty much experienced it all in September.
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Agony. Ecstasy. Injury.
There’s the highs of 2001 and 2005, where the Panthers won a pair of premierships against Myrtleford.
There’s the disappointment of 2008, when they went down to Wangaratta.
Then there’s the pain of a reconstruction on a badly damaged wrist that prematurely ended his finals campaign in 2014.
Fractured vertebrae in his return match from the wrist injury in round 15 last year meant Stevens was forced to the stands as the Panthers made it to their first grand final in seven seasons.
While many feared the serious neck injury may end Stevens’ career, the Lavington leader has defied the odds to play 16 matches this season as the Panthers earned a grand final rematch against Albury.
And the 34-year-old couldn’t be happier.
“It’s the first time in three years that I’ll be taking part in the last game of the year with the rest of the crew, I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.
“I missed the whole finals series last year and the prelim the year before.
“I wasn’t too sure to what extent I would be able to compete this year with my neck and whatever else.
“It was just a matter of getting fit and getting back on the horse as best I can.
“It’s all 100 per cent, it’s been no worries at all.”
Stevens said the Panthers had learnt a lot from last season’s grand final loss to the Tigers and were better prepared this time around.
Lavington can take heart from the fact it hadn’t beaten the Saints throughout the 2005 season before trumping them in the decider.
That was Stevens’ second flag with the Panthers after the planets aligned perfectly in 2001.
Then 19, Stevens had spent the season with the Murray Kangaroos in the VFL before Panthers coach Tim Sanson pounced on their preliminary final exit to Box Hill.
“I got a phone call from ‘Timba’ pretty much straight after the game, he was watching it on the ABC, and he said ‘don’t get on the drink, you’re playing next week’,” he said.
“The grand final was my third game for Lavington that season. I was over the moon with that.”
Stevens has spent more time in the midfield than he was expecting with Matt Pendergast’s mid-season departure to pursue a firefighting career.
But with Matt Sharp and Stevens in the centre square, the Panthers still have two of the best clearance players in the league.
“My role has changed a bit during the year, but I’m very happy to be part of that midfield group at the crunch time of the year,” he said.
“Our midfield has got plenty of depth anyway but it’s good to be able to play a role in that group.”
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