Player Watch #15: Dylan Stephens

[Scallop Industry Thug]

Bolted in best 18. Hopefully sharing the wings with Wilson next year.

 

[Flawed Genius]

I think he's a good wingman when he recognizes his limitations but he seems to have developed those limitations upwards instead of downwards. Just a very solid citizen now. Colour me surprised

 

[Topparoo]

He's having a good season, starting to own that wing now.

 

[Disco Dew]

Shinboner

 

[kanga kanga kanga]

I thought he played the perfect wingers game yesterday

 

[Chip Scab1]

He was alright. Who was he on?

 

[amaz199]

Few second and third efforts

Love the new Stephens.

 

[Themanbun]

I thought he played the perfect wingers game yesterday

He plays the fat side wing very very well. Him and Jy complement each other well in that respect.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

He is a delightful kick (went at 89% yesterday) and pleasingly got 9 contested possessions and laid 3 tackles. Plenty of times he and Jy gut bust to run back and help on defence. He is playing his role in the team as expected.

 

[viccles]

Rocky start but glad he is in the team

 

[Psychic Roo]

Confidence is big for him.

 

[MC Bad Genius]

Confidence is big for him.

100%. It's something he struggled with at the Swans and being traded would've been another dent in that too. It's taken probably a bit longer than what NM fans would've liked, but you can see that confidence growing and growing thus year and how much it benefits his game.

Apart form self-confidence, the other side of the coin that seems particularly important to him is his team's confidence in him. I mentioned when he was first traded that after paying a lot of attention to him in Swans games, he would hold his width really well and gut run into good positions, but was often ignored for another option.

The question was whether he needed the team's confidence to build his own self-confidence, or whether he needed to show his own self-belief to build the trust of his teammates. Either way, he's managed to find the answer to that question and is playing great football.

He's now developed into a very good pick up for the Kangas.

 

[Dingster]

Was ok yesterday. Thought he held down his wing ok. Second behind PC in score involvements and one of a few that actually runs back defensively.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

It was a shame he left at least a couple of gettable goals in the 1st QTR on the table and ended up with 3 points. If he nailed those and suddenly we were out by 26 points…….well who know what might have happened? He is the least of our problems out there atm.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Needs to improve his inside 50’s far too often just bombs it in there without lowering his eyes. He and Jy torch leading forwards more than anyone else on our list.

 

[Themanbun]

Wingers who can hold their width and run defensively are worth their weight in gold.

 

[Passmore]

Wingers who can hold their width and run defensively are worth their weight in gold.

I'd like to see Tommy B.paired up with Stephens on the wings. Both seem to have those attributes.

As our resident midfield guru, do you think that would work?

 

[Blightys Barrel]

I'd like to see Tommy B.paired up with Stephens on the wings. Both seem to have those attributes.

As our resident midfield guru, do you think that would work?

I am no Guru, but we need one of these to at least be able to bench press Xerri’s helmet. Both not great tacklers and would struggle against teams with 2 stronger bodied wingmen. Jy is a better fit IMHO.

 

[Themanbun]

I'd like to see Tommy B.paired up with Stephens on the wings. Both seem to have those attributes.

As our resident midfield guru, do you think that would work?

While both wingers need to be able play fat and skinny side, you usually want one winger who plays the 'fat side' specialist (holds width, gets back to the goal line, shuts down the corridor by positioning lateral to the boundary throw in, gets separation when switching across the ground) and one who is a bit more contested and strong in traffic on the skinny side. I think Jy and Stephens complement each other well in that regard, whereas Tommy B might be more of Stephens' type.

 

[Passmore]

I am no Guru, but we need one of these to at least be able to bench press Xerri’s helmet. Both not great tacklers and would struggle against teams with 2 stronger bodied wingmen. Jy is a better fit IMHO.

Fair enough. I like both to the point that they're prepared to run.

 

[Passmore]

While both wingers need to be able play fat and skinny side, you usually want one winger who plays the 'fat side' specialist (holds width, gets back to the goal line, shuts down the corridor by positioning lateral to the boundary throw in, gets separation when switching across the ground) and one who is a bit more contested and strong in traffic on the skinny side. I think Jy and Stephens complement each other well in that regard, whereas Tommy B might be more of Stephens' type.

What's TB's role? HB? Rotating w/hb? VFL?

 

[Themanbun]

What's TB's role? HB? Rotating w/hb? VFL?

I like him as a half back who chops out the wing

 

[Passmore]

I like him as a half back who chops out the wing

If you like it Mr Bun, then so do I.

 

[Chip Scab1]

He's barely ok. I'd go as far as calling him a genuine impostor.

Wont ever be a class winger, he's effectively a cat.

 

[Roosurgence]

Like most of the team yesterday was dogshit, but so far from one of our problems.

Until someone else in the teams learns to run up and down the ground, holds his place.