Arthur Stevens (Australian footballer)

Arthur Stevens
Personal information
Full name	Arthur Stevens
Date of birth	(1899-06-27)27 June 1899
Date of death	7 July 1953(1953-07-07) (aged 54)
Place of death	Reservoir, Victoria
Original team(s)	Preston (VFA)
Height / weight	188 cm / 93 kg
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1927–1932	Footscray	64 (23)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1932.
Career highlights
Victorian representative: 1928 Footscray club captain: 1929
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Arthur Stevens (27 June 1899 – 7 July 1953) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He was often referred to as "Chidda" or "Chidder" Stevens.

Stevens arrived at Footscray in 1927, from Victorian Football Association club Preston. He was already aged 28 when he made his debut against St Kilda at Western Oval in round 10. A ruckman, Stevens immediately cemented his spot in the team and in 1928 was picked in the Victorian state side to play South Australia in Adelaide. He made 16 league appearances in the 1928 season and another 16 in 1929. When Footscray captain Allan Hopkins became unavailable in 1929, Stevens filled in as club captain.

On 17 August 1929, Footscray played a round 16 fixture against Melbourne at the MCG, during which Stevens was involved in several on field incidents. As the players were leaving the field at half time, Stevens was struck in the face by a man from the crowd and hit "by a women with her parasol", before being assisted to the rooms by police constables. The spectator that struck Stevens, Hector Michael Davis, was charged with assault and fined in court.

At the VFL Tribunal, Stevens was suspended for 10 league games, on three charges. He received four weeks for "kneeing" Melbourne player Col Deane, two for conducting himself in "an unseemly manner" (an objectionable gesture) and four for elbowing and attempting to strike Melbourne's George Cassidy.