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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[Bloods86]

Nope. He moved to Rads to finish school & play footy.

He's a Victorian from Red Cliffs in North Western Victoria.

Yes, as I keep telling everyone! It was sarcasm.

 

[GotTheGoodes]

Yes, as I keep telling everyone! It was sarcasm.

I'm the biggest idiot in the world & can't believe I missed it! Sarcasm is so easy to convey in text online too...

 

[SwansProudly]

Yes, as I keep telling everyone! It was sarcasm.

What does mean when texting?

Depicting a classic yellow smiley face turned upside down, Upside-Down Face commonly conveys sarcasm, irony, humor, and silliness

 

[caesar88]

I think the sub role is a good fit for Stephens. If his problem is that he's somewhere in the middle between good enough for AFL level but not good enough to really impact in complete four-quarter performances, what better way to use him than to condense his performances into 30 crucial minutes?

He's super fit, so can essentially play a whole quarter without needing rest. (Played 35 minutes of game time against the Giants - basically the entire fourth quarter without a rotation on the bench.)

Can have all of the impact he'd potentially have over four quarters in one quarter, when we may really need it, and when his fitness can be a clear advantage over tiring opponents and teammates alike.

It's not the way he'd want to be playing AFL, nor is it a long-term solution, given his out-of-contract status at the end of this season. But for the next three weeks it could be a viable asset for us, whilst simultaneously giving Stephens opportunities to show what he can do.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

I think his performance earned him a starting spot (if Campbell is suspended). When Campbell n jmac come back into the side I think Clarke comes under a bit of pressure.

It would be great to see Stephens start against CG and give him a chance elevate himself in that 20-26 category.

 

[BloodySwan]

I think his performance earned him a starting spot (if Campbell is suspended). When Campbell n jmac come back into the side I think Clarke comes under a bit of pressure.

It would be great to see Stephens start against CG and give him a chance elevate himself in that 20-26 category.

I'd happily play him over Clarke. Not sure whether Clarke was shutting anyone down

 

[bedford]

I'd happily play him over Clarke. Not sure whether Clarke was shutting anyone down

Only himself

 

[MF]

I'd happily play him over Clarke. Not sure whether Clarke was shutting anyone down

He did a good job on Whitfield, who was well down on his usual output.

 

[bedford]

can't wait for old mate to chip in

 

[BasicSwan]

Having watched him play in the reserves recently, how he played at the start of the season and then as the sub on Saturday, it looks like the coaches really wanted Stephens to show some intent to hunt the ball when the opportunity presents. I remember the game against Hawks, he was flat footed in defence and a goal was kicked on him because he didn't go for the ball when possible. It might well have been the reason he got subbed out earlier this year. He might still kick in a manner that isn't to the advantage of the forwards but he if keeps attacking the ball the way he does and gut running to help the defence, he should have a place in this team still and hopefully in the future if he wants to stay at the club (which I personally hope he does).

 

[TheMase]

He did a good job on Whitfield, who was well down on his usual output.

Whitfield stats…

Second lowest possession game for this year after round 1. Lowest marks any game this year (18 past two weeks, 1 this week). Only 2 rebounds, second lowest this year following 9 the previous week. Comfortably highest contested to uncontested possession ratio (almost 50/50), last time he did that was R2 2020 (Clarke wore him like a glove). Lowered his disposal efficiency by around 10%.

Clarke destroyed him.

 

[bedford]

Whitfield stats…

Second lowest possession game for this year after round 1. Lowest marks any game this year (18 past two weeks, 1 this week). Only 2 rebounds, second lowest this year following 9 the previous week. Comfortably highest contested to uncontested possession ratio (almost 50/50), last time he did that was R2 2020 (Clarke wore him like a glove). Lowered his disposal efficiency by around 10%.

Clarke destroyed him.

But this isn't about Clarke

 

[Jewelsbon]

But this isn't about Clarke

Funny that, apparently it was a couple of posts ago.....

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

Yeah he got a few touches but can see exactly why he ain't getting a game. There was a contest towards the end there where he was chasing after the ball and he stopped dead because a couple of players were coming the other way - ball bobbled out and pretty sure it lead to the Toby goal.

Saw the exact same situation today when game was on the line hawks v pies. Hawthorn player was chasing the ball down and Bobby Hill came the other way - hawks player kept going, copped the hit and they won the ball back. It stopped a goal and they went on to put the game to bed.

Levels...

There's a player in him, just needs to mature more and throw himself around and use the ball with intent

This is what Haywood does really well. Sprints off half forward and slams directly into on coming traffic.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

I hope Stephens gets a shot if Campbell is out. He needs to bring that intensity for four quarters. No reason why he can’t with his fitness base.

I wonder if his confusion has been with keeping his width as a wing man but then not understanding when the ball was in his zone that he needed to really hunt for it. Hopefully something has clicked for him.

 

[The King!]

This thread is almost as inconsistent as young Dylan

 

[mtooler]

Hopefully a late 2nd rounder , early 3rd

Yes, agree, he's a list clogger, I see no likelihood of improvement, much rather we put his salary into a ruckman in the league and just cut our losses of another brain fart of a first round selection.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Yes, agree, he's a list clogger, I see no likelihood of improvement, much rather we put his salary into a ruckman in the league and just cut our losses of another brain fart of a first round selection.

At the time many experts had him going top ten so I think "brain fart" is stretching it a bit. Not my choice either then or now but he was going OK.
Main thing is his lack of progress in some key elements of his game, stuff that's not that easy to coach. Vision, attack on the ball, kicking trajectory, speed of decision making.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

I reckon he needs to get his strides shorter. His stride looks as long as Jetta’s but he doesn’t have the same pace.

His long stride means he loses agility and unpredictability, and he doesn’t have blistering pace to make this inconsequential. I reckon it also makes it difficult for him to go in hard as he can sometimes be mid-stride at the contest and so cannot brace himself / get in low at the right time.

I was watching his draft tapes and it dates back until then, even resulted in some forces handballs without the best timing for team mates. It could be hard for him to fix now, probably needs a whole off season with a running coach.

 

[Kiama Chris]

I reckon he needs to get his strides shorter. His stride looks as long as Jetta’s but he doesn’t have the same pace.

His long stride means he loses agility and unpredictability, and he doesn’t have blistering pace to make this inconsequential. I reckon it also makes it difficult for him to go in hard as he can sometimes be mid-stride at the contest and so cannot brace himself / get in low at the right time.

I was watching his draft tapes and it dates back until then, even resulted in some forces handballs without the best timing for team mates. It could be hard for him to fix now, probably needs a whole off season with a running coach.

Good observation but maybe too late.

 

[Bloods86]

At the time many experts had him going top ten so I think "brain fart" is stretching it a bit. Not my choice either then or now but he was going OK.
Main thing is his lack of progress in some key elements of his game, stuff that's not that easy to coach. Vision, attack on the ball, kicking trajectory, speed of decision making.

Yep, he was highly rated, comparable or even higher than Serong in some cases. Of course, people will play the hindsight game, because it adds to the narrative that we're one of the worst in the 1st round, and it's something to complain about.

Development apparently has no place in whether a player turns out well...

 

[Kiama Chris]

Yep, he was highly rated, comparable or even higher than Serong in some cases. Of course, people will play the hindsight game, because it adds to the narrative that we're one of the worst in the 1st round, and it's something to complain about.

Development apparently has no place in whether a player turns out well...

A footy season goes so fast and the ability of coaches to identify areas for improvement and strategies to improve, then the ability and determination of the young men to implement varies so enormously.
Guys like Errol who live and breathe it and like Juzzy who is incredibly coachable and Chad who is so self-motivated are at one end of the spectrum but it IS a spectrum.

 

[Kiama Chris]

A footy season goes so fast and the ability of coaches to identify areas for improvement and strategies to improve, then the ability and determination of the young men to implement varies so enormously.
Guys like Errol who live and breathe it and like Juzzy who is incredibly coachable and Chad who is so self-motivated are at one end of the spectrum but it IS a spectrum.

Sometimes there are physical limitations too. My son attended a physio who later became the physio for the Wallabies and while waiting for him we watched as he corrected the running action of a Cronulla NRL player. It was amazing! Three muscles were triggering in the wrong order. Took about a third of a second off his 100m time plus improved his balance.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

I reckon he needs to get his strides shorter. His stride looks as long as Jetta’s but he doesn’t have the same pace.

His long stride means he loses agility and unpredictability, and he doesn’t have blistering pace to make this inconsequential. I reckon it also makes it difficult for him to go in hard as he can sometimes be mid-stride at the contest and so cannot brace himself / get in low at the right time.

I was watching his draft tapes and it dates back until then, even resulted in some forces handballs without the best timing for team mates. It could be hard for him to fix now, probably needs a whole off season with a running coach.

Great idea. He can run all day at a decent clip and has a great tank. But some sessions with a sprint coach may really help him.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

Was interesting when Horse was asked whether Stephens was likely to get a full game this week he mentioned Matty Roberts as another who was pushing for selection.