Player Watch #15: Dylan Stephens

[RightWingRoo]

Useful depth is so bullshit. Another pre season under his belt, and if he takes the same progression leap next year he would be in our first handful of players picked each week

I hope so!
Would be one less spot to worry about going forward.

Has the required tank and is generally a good user. Just needs to build consistency and holding his own in contests.
Disco has improved massively from last year, so hopefully he can back that up.

 

[Chip Scab1]

Useful depth is so bullshit. Another pre season under his belt, and if he takes the same progression leap next year he would be in our first handful of players picked each week

Yeah nah.

Larkey
Xerri
LDU
Wardlaw
Sheezel
McKercher
FOS
Trembath lol
Archer, WDawson, MWhitlock, Goad, George?

He played well as the opposition weren't that interested.

 

[HugeJohnson1]

Yeah nah.

Larkey
Xerri
LDU
Wardlaw
Sheezel
McKercher
FOS
Trembath lol
Archer, WDawson, MWhitlock, Goad, George?

He played well as the opposition weren't that interested.

So we aren’t playing with any wingers? Nice one bud

 

[Chip Scab1]

So we aren’t playing with any wingers? Nice one bud

He played a really excellent dead rubber, yesterday. When he does similar with our season still alive, I'll praise him. Until that point comes, believe it or not, I'm harsh but completely fair.

 

[muttley45]

The softest 50m penalty ever against him in their forward pocket

 

[chubbspeterson]

Useful depth is so bullshit. Another pre season under his belt, and if he takes the same progression leap next year he would be in our first handful of players picked each week

In the short term it's his spot to lose. I just think he's not likely best 23 in a finals side longer term.
He has definitely improved and had a good year, but not sure you can trust him to deliver in moments that matter.

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

Hard to argue with Dyl’s last game. Ran all day, 2 goals and was accurate with his kicking.

 

[Gorman2Geister]

Yep - I have to put up my hand and say I was wrong about him. He's a solid performer and isn't so scared of contact anymore. Some of his first season efforts were really embarrassing but now he's not so prone to shirking a contest.

He holds his width and does the hard yards in a Sam Gibson

Sam Gibson

Age

39

Ht

185cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.2

5star

K

12.1

4star

HB

10.1

5star

M

5.3

5star

T

2.7

4star

CL

1.9

4star

No current season stats available

D

16.2

4star

K

10.2

4star

HB

6.0

4star

M

6.0

5star

T

2.0

4star

CL

0.8

3star

-esque manner.

 

[blisk]

our shitshow of a defensive system means he is exposed “in shot” far more than he should be due to his running capacity being far greater than anyone else on our team.

Is tidy with the ball, can run all day, understands and holds his width. will have more games like Saturday (dead rubber noted) as the side improves.

 

[Moti]

Moti Season Review:

Rating: B

Ran hard, used speed and delivered the ball well. He acted like a wingman. He improved his contested work and started to put his body on the line. This may be the ceiling, but at least he is a solid upgrade on Scott and locks in one wing.

Pre-Season focus: Get stronger

Projected 2026 position: AFL Wing

 

[The Nostradamus]

 

[shintemaster]

Moti Season Review:

Rating: B

Ran hard, used speed and delivered the ball well. He acted like a wingman. He improved his contested work and started to put his body on the line. This may be the ceiling, but at least he is a solid upgrade on Scott and locks in one wing.

Pre-Season focus: Get stronger

Projected 2026 position: AFL Wing

Agree. Had a good year, although I thought he tapered a bit after a very good first 8-10 weeks. That could have been more about the team though as it was around that time we started to have a reasonably competitive patch - perhaps he was just less noticeable when others were playing better as a team.
Felt like is last 8-10 games weren't as strong although the team mostly caved during that period which might have changed perception.
He has a wing locked down - for now.

 

[Themanbun]

Easy work.

 

[Dinkers]

Ol fat Logue leading the way aye!

Good to see LMac up there as well, and good job by Stephen for winning that group.

 

[DesertRoo]

Ol fat Logue leading the way aye!

Good to see LMac up there as well, and good job by Stephen for winning that group.

I don’t know if I should be horrified or happy…

We could be in for a long season if those two are leading the way.

 

[speedy]

81 games 24yrs, time to take another step. 20+ disposals, 10-15 goals and many more tackles.

 

[El Capuano]

Very encouraging to see Logue so high up the list, hope he can stay on the park

 

[Chip Scab1]

81 games 24yrs, time to take another step. 20+ disposals, 10-15 goals and many more tackles.

I'll take all that + I wanna see him hurt someone, anyone. Once.

 

[shintemaster]

I'll take all that + I wanna see him hurt someone, anyone. Once.

Stop monkey pawing us ya loon.

 

[Chip Scab1]

Stop monkey pawing us ya loon.

I'm not saying elbowing some poor sod in the face, just tackle and drive opponents shoulder into the ground with a bit of "interest". I just need to see it once, I reallllly need to see it or he's a fraud imo. A genuine fraud. Can't be trusted to go to war and put it all on the line lol

 

[Dinkers]

Hard to argue with Dyl’s last game. Ran all day, 2 goals and was accurate with his kicking.

Yep can't argue and I'm hoping that that becomes the baseline, not the 2 goals but working hard all day.

Had 15 games with less than 15 disposals in 2025 just not good enough. Then add in 7 games zero tackles and 8 games 1 tackle.

Hope he comes good, has some traits but goes missing for long stretches. imo. I have my doubts he can become a solid citizen.

happy to be wrong .

 

[Themanbun]

Yep can't argue and I'm hoping that that becomes the baseline, not the 2 goals but working hard all day.

Had 15 games with less than 15 disposals in 2025 just not good enough. Then add in 7 games zero tackles and 8 games 1 tackle.

Hope he comes good, has some traits but goes missing for long stretches. imo. I have my doubts he can become a solid citizen.

happy to be wrong .

His main problem is lack of confidence.

Gets to the right spots but is way too shy to let his teammates know he's there.

 

[speedy]

I'm not saying elbowing some poor sod in the face, just tackle and drive opponents shoulder into the ground with a bit of "interest". I just need to see it once, I reallllly need to see it or he's a fraud imo. A genuine fraud. Can't be trusted to go to war and put it all on the line lol

You wouldn’t be a fan of Shane Clayton then.

 

[shintemaster]

I'm not saying elbowing some poor sod in the face, just tackle and drive opponents shoulder into the ground with a bit of "interest". I just need to see it once, I reallllly need to see it or he's a fraud imo. A genuine fraud. Can't be trusted to go to war and put it all on the line lol

There are just some things you don't say at the start of pre season when he is only going to be playing against our blokes for 4 months.

 

[Dinkers]

His main problem is lack of confidence.

Gets to the right spots but is way too shy to let his teammates know he's there.

Not sure you can buy a can of confidence, or a bag of belief. Even a sack of success. So it sits with him, due to our continued lowly finishes, we have a few that while they're getting games, could soon go the way of Scott.