Stevens, who turns 39 on Tuesday, has spent five years in charge of the Saints, leading them to the 2018 premiership and another grand final 12 months later.

Stevens hasn't made a decision about his playing future yet but wants to spend more time with his young family.

"It was an easy decision and it was made a long time ago," he revealed.

"I feel as though it's the right move for me and the club, to find someone that can bring another group through and keep the standards high for the next few years.

"It could have been different if we had a season last year.

"That might have been my last year but the timing is definitely right now for the club to get someone else at the helm."

Stevens, a triple best-and-fairest at Lavington, has five young children and doesn't want to miss out on their sporting milestones.

"They're all starting to have their afternoon sport and training sessions throughout the week," he said.

"Saturday mornings are pretty busy with one going to Auskick and one going to netball and next year, there will be two more involved.

"So while I won't be coaching, we'll still be heavily involved in sport on our Saturdays."

Agreeing to lead Brock-Burrum again in 2021 means Stevens will now go out on his terms rather than walking away in a year wiped out by coronavirus.

"I think there would have been a lot of others in the same boat," he said.

"After a year off, it freshened a lot of people up and gave some players a good enough reason to hang it up.

"But it probably gave a lot of others a good enough reason to have another year or two as well, after a year without footy.

"You realise how much you love it after you've had it taken away from you."

The Saints are on course to play finals for the 11th year running despite losing four of their first five games.

Sitting fifth in the Hume league, with games against Culcairn and Jindera to come, they'll be looking to give Stevens a fitting send-off in September.

"We've played some really good patches of footy this year," Stevens said.

"It's so exciting knowing the boys are really keen to continue to bring that more consistently.

"We're excited about our opportunities and our potential to have a real crack and go as deep as we possibly can in the rest of the year."

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Stevens has been sidelined for much of the season but he's played in each of the Saints' last two games.

"It's much easier and more rewarding being out there," he said.

"You see and feel different things when you're playing.

"From the sideline, you can scan the whole field and see a lot more but it's much easier to lead when you're out there wearing the jumper.

"It's even better when you get to sing the song and have a beer in the change rooms after the game.

"It's what you play for and I'm loving it."

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