It was a big night, with 350 in attendance at the Kedron Wavell RSL Club in Brisbane, the 100th year anniversary of the football club.
Stevenson, who played with Mayne Tigers in 1982 and 1983, was one of 80 Mayne footballers inducted into Mayne’s Hall of Fame, the first since foundation.
“It was a good night,” the 62-year-old Australian Munitions employee in Mulwala told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“It’s a good club, good bunch of blokes and we had a great playing coach in Mick Nolan, the former North Melbourne ruckman. He was tremendous as a coach.
“I caught up with former teammates which was good.”
In 1982, Stevenson starred in Mayne’s grand final victory and also went well the following season, the side going down in the preliminary final.
He played about 140 games with Yarrawonga, finishing runner up in the O and M best and fairest award to fellow teammate John Brunner. “It was the last vote of the night!” the runner up said.
Stevenson and long-time teammate, Brendan (Wedge) Clarke commenced their senior football careers at the same time in 1979 under coach Noel Long.
“Peas was an instant hit, playing on the wing, and was a star player in Yarra’s three point loss to Wodonga in that year’s preliminary final,” Clarke said.
“He ventured north to play with Mayne Football Club in the QAFL and was near on best in the grand final victory coached by the legendary Mick Nolan.
“On returning home to Yarrawonga Peas was consistently in the best players during the 80s, highlighted with selection in the Ovens and Murray and Victorian Country Football League.”
Clarke and Stevenson represented the Ovens and Murray league together. “I had a bird’s eye view of the champion wingman from my spot at half-back,” Clarke recalled.
“Peter’s undeniable courage was his standout trademark and rarely have I seen a player put his body on the line for his fellow teammate as often as he did.
“His pace, overhead marking and long kicking were magnificent skills that troubled all opponents.”
Clarke described Stevenson as “the champ” and “easily the best wingman in the Ovens and Murray at that time, from 1979 to 1988”.
Other locals to have played for Mayne have been Johnny O’Kane and Grant Madigan. Maurie Coughlan, who played Reserves at Mayne, accompanied Peas and Shaz to the Hall of Fame night.
Mayne Football Club has also been represented by AFL players Jason Akermanis and Richard Champion.
Stevenson coached at Tungamah and Barooga, and secured numerous league best and fairest awards.
“If ever there was a highlights reel put together of Peas, it would show everyone how the game should be played and I was lucky enough to call him a great teammate,” Clarke concluded.
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