Past #3 Dylan Stephens

[Kennedy Parker]

Dylan Stephens
The Sydney Swans used their first pick five since Jarrad McVeigh

Jarrad Mcveigh

Age

40

Ht

184cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.3

5star

K

11.1

4star

HB

8.2

5star

M

4.0

4star

T

3.1

5star

MG

327.8

4star

No current season stats available

D

9.4

3star

K

6.0

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

1.6

2star

T

1.8

4star

in 2002 to lock in a talented midfielder from South Australian club Norwood at the 2019 AFL Draft. Dylan Stephens

15

Dylan Stephens

Age

24

Ht

184cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.3

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.3

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.7

4star

CL

0.0

1star

D

10.3

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.3

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.7

3star

CL

0.0

1star

D

10.3

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.3

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.7

4star

CL

0.0

1star

is a prolific ball-winner and creative user of the footy by hand and foot. He played predominantly on a wing in the early matches of the 2019 AFL Under-18 Championships before starring on the inside in the final match, gathering 33 disposals in a best-on-ground performance. A penetrating left-footer, he averaged 23.8 disposals and 4.8 tackles across the 2019 AFL Under-18 Championships and was rewarded with All Australian honours. He also played some excellent football at senior level with Norwood, averaging 18.2 disposals and 4.6 tackles in 12 matches. Stephens enjoyed a breakout season for the Bloods in 2020 with a memorable AFL debut in Round 6 against Richmond alongside fellow debutant, Chad Warner

1

Chad Warner

Age

24

Ht

185cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.0

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

2.5

2star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.5

3star

CL

0.0

1star

D

7.0

1star

K

4.5

2star

HB

2.5

2star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.5

2star

CL

0.0

1star

D

7.0

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

2.5

3star

M

1.5

2star

T

1.5

4star

CL

0.0

1star

. Stephens finished the campaign with eight appearances, averaging 12.5 disposals and 3.4 marks per game, while also kicking two goals.

Dylan Stephens

15

Dylan Stephens

Age

24

Ht

184cm

Wt

80kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.3

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.3

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.7

4star

CL

0.0

1star

D

10.3

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.3

2star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.7

3star

CL

0.0

1star

D

10.3

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

3.3

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.7

4star

CL

0.0

1star

DOB: 08 January 2001
DEBUT: 2020
DRAFT: #5, 2019 National Draft
RECRUITED FROM: Red Cliffs (Vic)/Walkerville (SA)/St Peter's College (SA)/Norwood (SANFL)

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[Olian]

He wasn’t great but worth noting there were some 19 players on the ground that had less of the ball than he did (13 of those were Carlton players).

Graham Cornes rates him highly and was disappointed the Crows traded away pick 4 to the Giants. Who knows Cornes may have his finger on the pulse with regards to Adelaide based players and their talents.

 

[S120]

My concern with him is that he seems to be low on confidence - ducking to me is often a sign that the player just isn't mentally all there at that point in time. When a player is feeling good about himself, you don't see that very often imo. I suspect he's putting a lot of pressure on himself to crack seniors and stay there. I just hope the coaches are encouraging the right frame of mind and steady improvement for his own sake. He won't be the first first rounder to go in and out of the side. I do hope that they stick with him though because he showed toward the end of last year that he's got the ability to run and very good hands in tight (the Hannebery kind of hands where he can deftly funnel ball out to teammates on each side of the body - not saying he's that good obviously but that's what I'm talking about).

 

[Blacky]

For those who are staunchly defending him, at what point do you start to worry?

Later this season, next season, or the following?

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

For those who are staunchly defending him, at what point do you start to worry?

Later this season, next season, or the following?

After a block. He was fine last year.

 

[Olian]

For those who are staunchly defending him, at what point do you start to worry?

Later this season, next season, or the following?

Probably longer than those who wrote him off.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

For those who are staunchly defending him, at what point do you start to worry?

Later this season, next season, or the following?

I'm worried now - but only because he hasn't re-signed.

 

[Blacky]

After a block. He was fine last year.

Probably longer than those who wrote him off.

I'm worried now - but only because he hasn't re-signed.

No one got the fortitude to actually answer?

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

For those who are staunchly defending him, at what point do you start to worry?

Later this season, next season, or the following?

Ok. I would give him 40 games to make a fair assessment.

There you go Blacky

 

[Blacky]

Ok. I would give him 40 games to make a fair assessment.

There you go Blacky

Thanks mate, so third (maybe fourth) season. Reckon we will know before then, but good to know

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Thanks mate, so third (maybe fourth) season. Reckon we will know before then, but good to know

I actually still think he is an improver on our list.

 

[Blacky]

I actually still think he is an improver on our list.

How so mate?

Flanders and Tom Green are starting to find some improvement so hopefully Stephens is not far behind

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

How so mate?

Flanders and Tom Green are starting to find some improvement so hopefully Stephens is not far behind

Green is just great to watch. Stevo is different to him and Neddie for that matter. In the 2s he is all in but in the 1s he holds back from his natural inclination.

 

[Bloods86]

No one got the fortitude to actually answer?

I would have thought 'After a block (of games)' was an answer. The kid showed good signs last year, has been one of the reserves best in his what 4-5 reserves games since coming to the club, and while he's had a mixed bag of good/bad in seniors this year, putting an arbitrary deadline on player development would show a complete lack of knowledge of well, player development (there's no one size fits all). But hey, let's go with end of the year. And fortitude (?), we're all fans behind keyboards/phones, give me a break.

 

[Olian]

No one got the fortitude to actually answer?

At least 4 seasons, as young players are too inconsistent in the early years.

It’s not like there are those who have written off Stephens had the fortitude to justify how long he had to prove himself though. These are the same posters willing to write Hickey off before he’d moved to Sydney. Jumping the gun is the easy thing to do though.

 

[S120]

I would have thought 'After a block (of games)' was an answer. The kid showed good signs last year, has been one of the reserves best in his what 4-5 reserves games since coming to the club, and while he's had a mixed bag of good/bad in seniors this year, putting an arbitrary deadline on player development would show a complete lack of knowledge of well, player development (there's no one size fits all). But hey, let's go with end of the year. And fortitude (?), we're all fans behind keyboards/phones, give me a break.

Very well said. Particularly the bolded part.

 

[Bloods86]

Green is just great to watch. Stevo is different to him and Neddie for that matter. In the 2s he is all in but in the 1s he holds back from his natural inclination.

This. I get the feeling it's partially (hard to excuse basic skill/composure errors) due to responsibility given to him. In reserves, he's one of the top midfield dogs and it's probably clear to him what he needs to do. In seniors, he's got everyone else in front of him, probably getting different instructions. At the end of last year, you'd have thought Stephens would kick on and it was uncertain whether Warner would make it (if you were the kind to jump the gun) - I think Stephens had an injury interrupted preseason and Warner took big strides. Things change/fluctuate.

I say all this, despite wanting Serong at that draft. Once players are at our club, especially draftees who haven't had the opportunity to show questionable skill/form elsewhere (like maybe a couple currently on our list), they deserve some patience.

 

[strauchanie59]

Players develop at different rates. Not every midfielder that is drafted is a Sam Walsh or Matt Rowell type who hits the ground running and impacts at a high level straight away.

It took Dion Prestia three seasons before he hit his straps.
Darcy Parish has only just started producing consistent midfield numbers and it took him almost 100 games.
Hell, even Cam Guthrie took years to show that he could be a good midfielder, and he's having a career best year at 28 years old.

Give him time, his body still has a fair way to go before it's developed to a stage that he can play consistent midfield minutes. The kid has played 12 games so far in his career. The overreactions at this stage are unwarranted.

 

[The King!]

He had a bad game, it happens... let's not crucify the kid and back him to improve.

I got my crucifixion gear out for nothing ?

 

[Blacky]

I would have thought 'After a block (of games)' was an answer. The kid showed good signs last year, has been one of the reserves best in his what 4-5 reserves games since coming to the club, and while he's had a mixed bag of good/bad in seniors this year, putting an arbitrary deadline on player development would show a complete lack of knowledge of well, player development (there's no one size fits all). But hey, let's go with end of the year. And fortitude (?), we're all fans behind keyboards/phones, give me a break.

I’m not aware of the conversion rate of time or games to “blocks”.

I asked a simple question which required a specific answer and I’ve had to push to get one.

End of the year, fine.

At least 4 seasons, as young players are too inconsistent in the early years.

It’s not like there are those who have written off Stephens had the fortitude to justify how long he had to prove himself though. These are the same posters willing to write Hickey off before he’d moved to Sydney. Jumping the gun is the easy thing to do though.

4 years is ridiculous imo. That’s into second contract. Would be the exception for players to come good in their 5th season after being shit for 4 years.

Definitely more likely to lose more than you win by waiting til year 5

 

[Blacky]

Players develop at different rates. Not every midfielder that is drafted is a Sam Walsh or Matt Rowell type who hits the ground running and impacts at a high level straight away.

It took Dion Prestia three seasons before he hit his straps.
Darcy Parish has only just started producing consistent midfield numbers and it took him almost 100 games.
Hell, even Cam Guthrie took years to show that he could be a good midfielder, and he's having a career best year at 28 years old.

Give him time, his body still has a fair way to go before it's developed to a stage that he can play consistent midfield minutes. The kid has played 12 games so far in his career. The overreactions at this stage are unwarranted.

Prestia averaged 20 disposals a game in year 2 after 17 in year 1.

Parish averaged 20 disposals in both his rookie and second season and played 20 games in each.

Stephens has never had 20 disposals ever.

 

[strauchanie59]

Prestia averaged 20 disposals a game in year 2 after 17 in year 1.

Parish averaged 20 disposals in both his rookie and second season and played 20 games in each.

Stephens has never had 20 disposals ever.

Prestia came into the AFL system already physically more developed than most other Gold Coast draftees. By his third season in 2013, Gold Coast had got rid of most the mature midfielders they had drafted and he was in most centre bounces with Ablett and Swallow.

Parish was helped by the fact in 2016, Essendon had all those suspensions. He was getting midfield minutes/games that he wouldn't have got had their full list been available and his development was accelerated. But his averages stayed within that 19-21 disposal mark for the first five seasons. With the likes of Devon Smith, Shiel and McGrath coming on, alongside Merrett, pure inside midfield minutes were hard to come by. It's no surprise that with Shiel injured and Smith playing more forward, that he's thriving with more and more inside mid minutes.

I'm not trying to say that Stephens would be averaging 20+ touches a game if he was put in the guts each game, but having to play a half-forward/wing role with limited time on ground + being on the brink of the team even when he does play well, doesn't do an awful lot for his development. But it's a tough midfield to crack into, especially with Mills coming into his own this season and Warner, Rowbottom and Florent clearly ahead of him.

With a full pre-season under his belt, I'm excited to see what he can do.

 

[Millky95]

I'm not trying to say that Stephens would be averaging 20+ touches a game if he was put in the guts each game, but having to play a half-forward/wing role with limited time on ground + being on the brink of the team even when he does play well, doesn't do an awful lot for his development. But it's a tough midfield to crack into, especially with Mills coming into his own this season and Warner, Rowbottom and Florent clearly ahead of him.

Just to add he is playing a similar role to JMac who has only had 20 disposals or more twice in his career and has a year on Stephens

 

[strauchanie59]

Just to add he is playing a similar role to JMac who has only had 20 disposals or more twice in his career and has a year on Stephens

That he is. JMac is playing full of confidence, too, and Stephens looks devoid of it, unfortunately.

 

[GotTheGoodes]

I got my crucifixion gear out for nothing ?

Reidy might be back this week mate...

 

[GotTheGoodes]

Prestia came into the AFL system already physically more developed than most other Gold Coast draftees. By his third season in 2013, Gold Coast had got rid of most the mature midfielders they had drafted and he was in most centre bounces with Ablett and Swallow.

Parish was helped by the fact in 2016, Essendon had all those suspensions. He was getting midfield minutes/games that he wouldn't have got had their full list been available and his development was accelerated. But his averages stayed within that 19-21 disposal mark for the first five seasons. With the likes of Devon Smith, Shiel and McGrath coming on, alongside Merrett, pure inside midfield minutes were hard to come by. It's no surprise that with Shiel injured and Smith playing more forward, that he's thriving with more and more inside mid minutes.

I'm not trying to say that Stephens would be averaging 20+ touches a game if he was put in the guts each game, but having to play a half-forward/wing role with limited time on ground + being on the brink of the team even when he does play well, doesn't do an awful lot for his development. But it's a tough midfield to crack into, especially with Mills coming into his own this season and Warner, Rowbottom and Florent clearly ahead of him.

With a full pre-season under his belt, I'm excited to see what he can do.

Great answer!

I hate writing young blokes off so early. If we listened to the experts on here superstars like Teddy, Reg, Kirk, Macca... should all have been "never runs".

From the very same notion though there are busts & "almost rans" with every crop of players... It's footy.

Just to make it to a list is a pretty bloody good achievement though. So I'll tend to give them the benefit of the doubt & back our younger guys in as opposed to jumping for the trap door lever as soon as they don't play as well as some other player their age.