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

25

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

25

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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[The King!]

yep think it just hasn't been the right fit for whatever reason for both sides.

I think he can be a good player, rather keep him, but it seems it's not happening

 

[Tedeski]

Agreed. Was a mistake playing JMac, was near ineffective first half, got a bit better in the 2nd but meh. Dyl should have played.

Was he playing on Acres?

 

[Tedeski]

What's the deal with Stephens Bedders?
His fault or our fault & will he play 150-200 games as a Swan?

 

[bedford]

What's the deal with Stephens Bedders?
His fault or our fault & will he play 150-200 games as a Swan?

He needs to be lewft in the middle that's what he does in the V FL , can kick and might be like Nic Newman who didn't get rated by HORSE. i THINK HE'S BEEN TREATED LIKE SHITE

 

[Nuggetz]

He needs to be lewft in the middle that's what he does in the V FL , can kick and might be like Nic Newman who didn't get rated by HORSE. i THINK HE'S BEEN TREATED LIKE SHITE

I would've loved to see him have an opportunity in the middle at afl level.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

One of the coach's issues is playing hero's and villains with the list.

There are his favourites who are selected despite form and those he victimises.

The faves are contracted sometimes beyond their use by date. The others are last selected first dropped and invariably Horse plays them out of position.

Stephens is in a long line of players who have had great careers at other Clubs after being undervalued by Horse and co.

 

[BloodySwan]

4 seasons and 43 games later Stephens has still had plenty of opportunity to prove himself. We've had a contract in front of him all season, he's been given plenty of opportunity to prove his value

 

[Dubai Quacker]

4 seasons and 43 games later Stephens has still had plenty of opportunity to prove himself. We've had a contract in front of him all season, he's been given plenty of opportunity to prove his value

I disagree with your “plenty of opportunity” statement.

Plenty of times Dylan has been dropped when others in the same form would have been retained.

I can’t help but wonder how things would have played out if Dylan was given the same opportunity as say Hayward, who was retained (at the same stage of his development) despite appalling form.

It feels inevitable that he’ll leave, which I regard as a real shame, as he has a lot of positive attributes.

 

[BloodySwan]

I disagree with your “plenty of opportunity” statement.

Plenty of times Dylan has been dropped when others in the same form would have been retained.

I can’t help but wonder how things would have played out if Dylan was given the same opportunity as say Hayward, who was retained (at the same stage of his development) despite appalling form.

It feels inevitable that he’ll leave, which I regard as a real shame, as he has a lot of positive attributes.

Of those 43 he was activated as a sub 3 times, got subbed off once and was an unused sub once. So he's had 38 full games to prove his worth at AFL level, not including VFL level and training.

I'm not advocating for him to go - the club even has a contract in front of him all year - but what more can we do?

 

[bedford]

Of those 43 he was activated as a sub 3 times, got subbed off once and was an unused sub once. So he's had 38 full games to prove his worth at AFL level, not including VFL level and training.

I'm not advocating for him to go - the club even has a contract in front of him all year - but what more can we do?

Play him in the f ing middle

 

[MF]

I didn't see much VFL this year. Did his form as an inside mid warrant him taking minutes off a Warner or Rowbottom in the middle in the seniors?

Is his contested and defensive game really that good?

 

[bedford]

I didn't see much VFL this year. Did his form as an inside mid warrant him taking minutes off a Warner or Rowbottom in the middle in the seniors?

Is his contested and defensive game really that good?

Yes off Rowy and remember Chad was injured at one stage

 

[Dubai Quacker]

I didn't see much VFL this year. Did his form as an inside mid warrant him taking minutes off a Warner or Rowbottom in the middle in the seniors?

Is his contested and defensive game really that good?

No.

But being dropped for a returning McI in the final was kinda symptomatic of his whole career with us to date.

It’s a line-ball call re: whether or not he should have made way - but he always seems to be on the rough end of the tight calls.

 

[TheMase]

I didn't see much VFL this year. Did his form as an inside mid warrant him taking minutes off a Warner or Rowbottom in the middle in the seniors?

Is his contested and defensive game really that good?

No. He didn’t do enough to take minutes from them. He was less impressive on the inside than the younger Sheldrick and probably even Roberts.

 

[TheMase]

No.

But being dropped for a returning McI in the final was kinda symptomatic of his whole career with us to date.

It’s a line-ball call re: whether or not he should have made way - but he always seems to be on the rough end of the tight calls.

Agree he should have played in place of McInerney against Carlton.

 

[Tesla Tenet]

Of those 43 he was activated as a sub 3 times, got subbed off once and was an unused sub once. So he's had 38 full games to prove his worth at AFL level, not including VFL level and training.

I'm not advocating for him to go - the club even has a contract in front of him all year - but what more can we do?

Just lack of continuity, unlike others.

Sent from my SM-G990E using Tapatalk

 

[SSwans2011]

4 seasons and 43 games later Stephens has still had plenty of opportunity to prove himself. We've had a contract in front of him all season, he's been given plenty of opportunity to prove his value

It's not necessarily the lack of games, it's the lack of continuity as mentioned above.

At the start of last year he played really well in the first 2 games, then was dropped after the Bulldogs game, despite poor performance from half the team. He's brought back later in the season and given a good run at it, and lo and behold, he looks a real player.

Then this year he's in and out again and can't find form, until he does, and then he's still dropped for a not completely fit McInerney. He seems to be a confidence player, and it can't help his confidence that the coaches don't seem to have that much confidence in him.

 

[BloodySwan]

It's not necessarily the lack of games, it's the lack of continuity as mentioned above.

At the start of last year he played really well in the first 2 games, then was dropped after the Bulldogs game, despite poor performance from half the team. He's brought back later in the season and given a good run at it, and lo and behold, he looks a real player.

Then this year he's in and out again and can't find form, until he does, and then he's still dropped for a not completely fit McInerney. He seems to be a confidence player, and it can't help his confidence that the coaches don't seem to have that much confidence in him.

Played the last 12 games last season, played the first 7 games of this season. How much continuity is required?

 

[bedford]

Played the last 12 games last season, played the first 7 games of this season. How much continuity is required?

Give it a break ,. how many ####ing opportunities has Wayward had

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

He seems to be a kid who backs himself in. He has obviously put a lot of work in to put on size.

He will have a quality career but sadly not with us.

Like George and Newman I expect he will be in the best players when his future mob play us.

 

[TheMase]

Give it a break ,. how many ####ing opportunities has Wayward had

They’re not competing for the same place for one.

Secondly, it’s possible that Hayward is seen very differently internally by the coaches AND his peers.

He didn’t end up in the leadership group by accident… the players wanted him there.

 

[swanssince2002]

Ehhh I wouldn't blame him for still being slightly miffed that he got dropped right away after the Bulldogs game last season where you could have dropped 10 others based on that first half alone.. where we scored 9 points.

Of course, the match committee course corrected during his 2nd stint last season where they could have dropped him after the bad Essington game but kept him on and then we went on a 9 game winning streak.

Never quite seemed to get the backing compared to some of the other players. Got dropped again this season, and then looked much improved in his second stint his last 4 games. He cracked in and seemed like he figured out something.

 

[BloodySwan]

Give it a break ,. how many ####ing opportunities has Wayward had

I keep getting told he hasn't had enough opportunities to prove himself, what is the right amount of opportunities required?

He's had 4 seasons, continuity in the team, 38 whole games to run out. Players who have joined the Swans later than Stephens (Gulden and Campbell) with less opportunity have proven more than he has during the same period. And in saying all this the club still wants him, wants to give him more opportunity at the club.

The attitude he hasn't been given a fair go is nonsense.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

They’re not competing for the same place for one.

Secondly, it’s possible that Hayward is seen very differently internally by the coaches AND his peers.

He didn’t end up in the leadership group by accident… the players wanted him there.

Will seems a very popular Clubman and top young man. No surprise he was elected to the LG. His leadership skills are not evident during games. In particular he cannot be trusted to convert opportunities and truthfully he doesn't trust himself.

He has led a charmed life getting games which he doesn't deserve. He has been close to a liability in big games. Not as bad as The GRohan but almost as ineffectual.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

From Tom Morris on SEN this morning:


“It’s decision time for Dylan Stephens

15

Dylan Stephens

Age

25

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

who was pick five in the 2019 draft,” Morris said.

“He's played 40 odd games. The Swans have had a deal in front of him for a number of weeks.

“Now he'll have his exit meeting this week, North Melbourne is interested.

“There is a feeling around club-land that he's going to look to go elsewhere, but he hasn't confirmed that yet.

“The Swans don't know what he's going to do yet.”