1. He's a son of a gun

River arrives at Arden Street with a very recognisable surname. His father, Anthony Stevens, was an inspirational and courageous figure throughout his 292 career games as a Kangaroo. The former captain claimed two Syd Barker Medals, two premierships and landed a spot in the club's Team of the Century. Now, River gets an opportunity to leave his mark on the club and create his own legacy.

2. Don't expect fuss

River's draft year has been "underrated" according to recruiter Will Thursfield. While he's physically light and has plenty of development to do, Thursfield likes the fact he plays a team-first game. "He'll come in … train really hard and put his head down," Thursfield says. "He's a 'no fuss' sort of kid".

3. He's got his dad's determination

You could never question Anthony's grit on gameday, and the same applies to his son, River. "He has a real crack," Thursfield says. "He plays to win. He's made of the right stuff."

4. He knows how to hit the scoreboard

A classy, clever and creative small forward, Stevens knows where the big sticks are and provides plenty of polish when called upon to finish. Using his silky left boot, Stevens put in two eye-catching displays for Vic Country in 2024, his best coming against South Australia when he booted two goals. He added another to his U18s national championship tally against Western Australia, showing promise once again.

5. He was a top contributor at the Falcons footy factory

Through seven games in 2024 for the Geelong Falcons, Stevens was one of Geelong's leading performers in the U18 Boys Coates Talent League. He was able to win plenty of the footy, averaging 15.4 disposals and 4.6 marks, while going at a goal per game.