Player Watch #15: Dylan Stephens

[rooboytom_90]

I've said this kid was a disgrace nearly every week since he's played for us. I'd give him some credit for the last few weeks but I still had the sick feeling.

I thought on the weekend he was really good. I trusted him. I was even prepared to forgive that kick as well. A remarkable turn of events and full credit to Clarkson if he goes on with it because I never saw the resemblence of an AFL player. Hopefully he continues to grow with confidence as his new found confidence/instinct is masking his soft underbelly if things aren't going well.

 

[koshari]

That kick will be talked about for years to come. I shoved my face into my scarf and kept it there until the spots and stars and patterns started to appear in all their psychedelic beauty.

We are climbing out of the Mariana Trench armed with a ham sandwich

you would think we would be used to these seismic events by now and fwiw dylan ( formerly Cat) stevens is a rare offender these days. like people who live in earthquake zones and when a tremour appears go along like nothing is happening when tourists are shitting them selves.

 

[DocSholl]

The problem with that kick is it displayed a much larger issue with him, which is composure under pressure. Not on his karl malone there though

 

[giantroo]

Think he got caught in two minds once IQ cut off his left side.

View attachment Messenger_creation_87303232-EE7C-4659-AD18-2F15B67ADA0C.mp4

 

[Passmore]

He looked like he'd just pulled the pin on a hand grenade.

 

[giantroo]

 

[The Nostradamus]

I reckon he’d be top 5 in our bnf so far

Especially since PC missed 3 games

I’d say it would go X daylight then some combo of Stephens, Chom, Powell and maybe Parker/sheezel

 

[Event Horizon]

Would be good to hear his own explanation of that kick. Could it be that he saw someone in the crowd thinking it was a player? I mean FFS, composure under pressure doesn't even explain this, as there was no immediate pressure that would cause this. There were options in front of him, why would he invent that unless there was a reason for it?

 

[joegreen]

FWIW being there on the night and watching the reply I think his first mistake was not going far enough back from the mark, so when called to play on he had very little space to work with. There was a sense of urgency in the atmosphere with all the North players charging forward so no doubt he was trying to move it quickly.

Then once cut off he had to get it rid of it and from there 2 guesses, there were 2 north players to his right, but only 10 or 15m away, perhaps he over kicked it. The other guess, sometimes when absolutely stuck kicking to grass is not the worst option, better than where an opposition player is. At least gives the team a chance to run on to it.

Either way, keep backing yourself in Dylan. You are doing well.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

I reckon he’d be top 5 in our bnf so far

Especially since PC missed 3 games

I’d say it would go X daylight then some combo of Stephens, Chom, Powell and maybe Parker/sheezel

Just in front of Pinky our 2nd best defender heh Nostradumbass ?

 

[Nostradumbass]

Just in front of Pinky our 2nd best defender heh Nostradumbass ?

Huh?

 

[LuvtheKangas]

Huh?

LOL, was not expecting that.

 

[Event Horizon]

Think he got caught in two minds once IQ cut off his left side.

View attachment 2325496

IQ has a double meaning in this case

 

[Event Horizon]

FWIW being there on the night and watching the reply I think his first mistake was not going far enough back from the mark, so when called to play on he had very little space to work with. There was a sense of urgency in the atmosphere with all the North players charging forward so no doubt he was trying to move it quickly.

Then once cut off he had to get it rid of it and from there 2 guesses, there were 2 north players to his right, but only 10 or 15m away, perhaps he over kicked it. The other guess, sometimes when absolutely stuck kicking to grass is not the worst option, better than where an opposition player is. At least gives the team a chance to run on to it.

Either way, keep backing yourself in Dylan. You are doing well.

Yes he didn't go back at all, which is ok if you are trying to play on quickly while we had options ahead of the ball. But once you decide not to play on quickly, you should go back at least 5 meters and not be rushed

 

[shintemaster]

He was far from our worst but I think people are a tad generous saying he had a good game. I thought he was pretty quiet in the first half tbh.

Wasn't his best for the year, but he has had a very good year. Been delivering good footy from about round 3-4 which is all you can ask for and how the team gets better.

 

[Themanbun]

Would be good to hear his own explanation of that kick. Could it be that he saw someone in the crowd thinking it was a player? I mean FFS, composure under pressure doesn't even explain this, as there was no immediate pressure that would cause this. There were options in front of him, why would he invent that unless there was a reason for it?

Think it was just a mistake. They happen and it's his first year of really cementing himself in the side.

 

[pupstar]

Think it was just a mistake. They happen and it's his first year of really cementing himself in the side.

Exactly Themanbun it was just a simple mistake that players make in every match even the best make mistakes. What really matters to me is that he learns from it and does not make it a regular thing I'm sure he knows what he did was wrong.

 

[muttley45]

If he was called to play on because he stepped off his line, looked like a panic and rushed kick to avoid being tackled, and obviously no right foot, if not, why not just go back 5-10m and make a decision before having to kick ?

 

[The Nostradamus]

If he was called to play on because he stepped off his line, looked like a panic and rushed kick to avoid being tackled, and obviously no right foot, if not, why not just go back 5-10m and make a decision before having to kick ?

Because he wanted the move the ball immediately to catch them on the rebound

Didn’t pull the trigger as it was too risky and then backfired cos was called to play on

Imo that shouldn’t be play on

 

[koshari]

LOL, was not expecting that.

 

[RightWingRoo]

There was one moment in our D50 Saturday night, in the 3rd quarter I believe. Disco put his head over the ball and won a contested ground ball. Wouldn't have happened last year, so the progress is real.

 

[zoomba23]

If he was called to play on because he stepped off his line, looked like a panic and rushed kick to avoid being tackled, and obviously no right foot, if not, why not just go back 5-10m and make a decision before having to kick ?

We were on a fast break. Quaynor was smart in shutting down the left hand corridor. Our forwards, surprise surprise, wanted it over the back, and their defenders did enough to create some doubt about whether the kick would work. They defended it as well as they could've and his brain just broke. If he'd just gone long in the general direction of the forwards, there's a fair chance we'd have manufactured something, because I'm pretty sure we had numbers, but alas

 

[Reagan Smash]

Your AFL club's most improved player so far in 2025 — SEN

Those who have improved.

apple.news

 

[shinboner magic]

Huh?

Hope you’re here to pick up your bro

 

[The Nostradamus]