The ex-wife of former North Melbourne footballer Anthony Stevens has spoken out about her controversial past after her son was recruited by the Kangaroos last week.
River Stevens, 18, joined his father’s old team after the Roos chose him with the 67th pick in the draft.
His father Anthony played for North Melbourne between 1989 and 2004, winning two premierships and scoring 127 goals in 292 games for the club.
Stevens enjoyed a brilliant football career, having been crowned North Melbourne’s Best and Fairest on two occasions and also winning an all-Australian jacket.
The football great would become club captain, replacing Wayne Carey, after he left the club for the Crows.
His departure came in the wake of an infamous scandal that rocked the club after Carey was said to have had an affair with Stevens’ wife Kelli.
Anthony Stevens’ ex-partner Kelli took to social media to talk about her pride in her son River, who signed for North Melbourne last week, but also opened up about his controversial past.
Kelli took to Instagram to talk about: ‘The past is where it belongs…behind us’
After her son was recruited to North Melbourne last week, Kelli issued a message on her social media, expressing her pride in her son after he joined the Roos, while addressing things that happened in the past.
‘I have to share these thoughts and words that I have had in my mind for a while. “I feel like now is an appropriate time,” she wrote on Instagram, posting a photo of her and River smiling, while her son wore a blue and white North Melbourne scarf.
‘The past is where it belongs…behind us.
‘As parents, our choices, challenges and lessons have shaped us, but they are ours and we can grow from them.
‘They do not define our children or their journeys. They are on their own path of life.
“My son, River, is entering an incredible chapter of his life with the North Melbourne Kangaroos.”
River is a hard-working forward, with a lot of speed and a great eye for the goal.
The creative forward had previously played for the Geelong Falcons in the 2024 Coates Talent League, averaging 14.4 disposals, 4.6 points and a goal per game.
Carey’s affair with Stevens’ now ex-wife shocked the football world when they were caught in a toilet at a house party, leading to the two-time premiership captain leaving the club in disgrace. Pictured: Anthony Stevens and his now ex-wife Kelli.
“This is your journey, your dreams, your challenges, your triumphs,” Kelli continued.
‘Let us support and celebrate the future he is building for himself, free from the shadows of the past.
‘Life is about learning, growing and supporting each other to find joy and happiness.
‘The future is full of possibilities and we all deserve to move forward with hope and positivity.
She ended the message with several “love heart” emojis and added, “Rivers is proud of mom.”
The post comes after Carey made a series of raw confessions last year about the affair that took place in 2002, claiming on social media that he had slept with Steven’s ex-wife Kelli three times.
He later spoke about the matter on his podcast, The Truth Hurts, stating: “Let’s be honest, we all know what happened.”
And he added: ‘Get over it. Twenty years ago.
Wayne Carey made a series of raw confessions about his affair with his teammate’s wife in 2023.
‘I have learned to live with it, I have not forgiven myself for it, but I have learned to live with it. So all you morons learn to live with it.
Carey also spoke out on the matter after joining SAS Australia in 2022.
‘It has haunted me for over 20 years. It was in self-destruct mode. “You know, I guess my life started to fall apart,” he said.
Stevens and Kelli remained married for six years after the scandal, before divorcing in 2008.