KADE Stevens says retirement is not on the agenda and says he has no hard feelings towards Raider Matt McDonald.
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The Lavington veteran is at home with neck fractures, but has not been told he can’t play again after last week’s incident with Wodonga Raiders midfielder McDonald at Birallee Park.
McDonald was reported by the match review panel, but was cleared by the tribunal on Wednesday night of any wrongdoing.
Stevens and McDonald haven’t yet spoken, but Stevens holds no grudges.
“There’s absolutely no bitterness to Macca or what he’s done,” Stevens said.
“I’ve got no doubt I’ll run into him and probably have a beer one day.
“I haven’t spoken to him but he has messaged me.
“The only reason I haven’t spoken to him is because I’m still catching people who have been in contact.”
Stevens had his 33rd birthday at The Alfred Hospital on Monday, where he was told he will have to wear a neck brace 24/7 for an indefinite period.
He’ll have a follow up visit in a fortnight, but the popular midfielder knows he’s lucky the injury wasn’t even more severe.
I do feel selfish whinging about it.
- Kade Stevens
“I feel selfish whinging about it when you know what Jimmy (McQuillan) has been through,” Stevens said.
“This is not too bad.
“A few people have said, ‘Gee you’re lucky to what it could have been’.
“They’ve seen incidents that have been a little bit more innocuous, that have had worse outcomes.
“I’m walking around and obviously I can’t run and picking up the kids… I can’t do that sort of stuff.
“In terms of every day functioning, it’s just uncomfortable.”
Stevens won’t play again this year, but he’s not about to retire, either.
It was his first senior game back from a broken wrist, which he suffered against Wangaratta Rovers in last year’s finals.
“In terms of whether or not this will stop me playing footy, I don’t think it will,” Stevens said.
“It’s heartbreaking it will finish me this year.
“I’ve worked too hard to get back this year to play for 15 minutes - having said that I’m walking and I’m happy.”
Stevens doesn’t remember the incident, which he has since watched on video.
Racing off the bench, he tried to pick up the football when he collided head-first with McDonald.
“It’s weird looking at it because there’s no memory whatsoever,” Stevens said.
“You look at it and it’s one of those things that can happen in any footy game.”
Stevens said he had been overwhelmed with messages of support.
“A lot of people I’ve played against as well,” he said.
