Past #3 Dylan Stephens

[Kennedy Parker]

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

Jarrad Mcveigh

Age

39

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

23

Ht

185cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Mid

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)

Dylan Stephens | AFL

Follow Dylan Stephens's progress through AFL

www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[Deccas]

Real slow burn of a player but I reckon at like, 28, he's going to be one of the best in the league.

 

[rustycrate]

The run of games is really building confidence. Again credit to the coaches, he has earnt his spot and he is being backed in.

He is starting to believe he belongs at the level which is important.

He has the tools, skills and decision making will continue to improve.

Excited for what he can be.

I get all the enthusiasm to want him to succeed. I'm in that camp too. I really want him to succeed.
But, not wanting to be negative, he looks out of place all of the time. Be it celebrating with teammates after goals or just running to positions after them. I dunno. He doesn't seem like he belongs to me. Feels a bit weird when I watch him play. Like he is awkward. I can't explain it.

 

[Ed_Gein]

I don't see a player in him that was worth a pick 5, but he's not a bust. Serviceable squad player that contributes. We could've done worse, but also better.

 

[FAITH]

watched a lot of him as a junior given he's a good norwood boy, my expectations were he would be close to an A-Grader by now. Seems to be developing in a slow manner??

 

[FAITH]

I don't see a player in him that was worth a pick 5, but he's not a bust. Serviceable squad player that contributes. We could've done worse, but also better.

I know for a fact we would've taken him with pick 6 if available, at the time I was quite disappointed you guys took him ahead of us.
One of the best kids I've seen come through the SANFL, but hasn't reached the heights I expected.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

watched a lot of him as a junior given he's a good norwood boy, my expectations were he would be close to an A-Grader by now. Seems to be developing in a slow manner??

Think he's developing okay, was always going to take longer with his frame. His last month has been really good, was happy for him kicking the sealer last weekend.

 

[FAITH]

Think he's developing okay, was always going to take longer with his frame. His last month has been really good, was happy for him kicking the sealer last weekend.

Not sure about always gonna take longer.
I was at this game, and haven't seen too many 18 year olds do this in the SANFL

 

[Deccas]

I know for a fact we would've taken him with pick 6 if available, at the time I was quite disappointed you guys took him ahead of us.
One of the best kids I've seen come through the SANFL, but hasn't reached the heights I expected.

He's small and got drafted at a bad time. He was always gonna need a few years to get big enough to play at AFL level. He also spent his first couple of years bouncing over the country and never getting proper games and consistent gym sessions. A lot of players from the covid drafts have developed strangely. I think the sort of qualities his game is uilt around are going to take a while to build up. I think his career peak will be his late 20s.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Not sure about always gonna take longer.
I was at this game, and haven't seen too many 18 year olds do this in the SANFL

Get what you are saying but I have been prepared to go the long route with Dyl. He has just started to have a block of games (and don't get me started on this). Going in and out was silly. The best thing was his breakout game a few weeks ago, he's backed it up being solid the last few weeks

 

[Deccas]

Not sure about always gonna take longer.
I was at this game, and haven't seen too many 18 year olds do this in the SANFL

I dunno that's exactly the sort of thing you won't be able to do in the AFL as a sub 70kg player. Like there are just going to be bigger and more explosive players in a centre bounce. Instead of being one of the better athletes on the field as an 17 year old you're one of the worst as a 20 year old.

 

[FAITH]

Get what you are saying but I have been prepared to go the long route with Dyl. He has just started to have a block of games (and don't get me started on this). Going in and out was silly. The best thing was his breakout game a few weeks ago, he's backed it up being solid the last few weeks

Has Dawson leaving the club helped Stephens in any way?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Has Dawson leaving the club helped Stephens in any way?

Not really different roles. We'd rather Dawson still here but it has given opportunities for others. Dylan is your hybrid mid I guess you can call him, and Dawson as much as he tries to tell everyone otherwise is not a mid anyway. I do note the Crows aren't playing Dawson in the middle (jeez that lasted long!)

 

[cherub]

Definitely can cover the ground

Needs to be more aware though

2 times he got done for deliberate that were there.

Definitely can cover the ground

Needs to be more aware though

2 times he got done for deliberate that were there

One of those was a rush kick towards a wing. He would have been better to have made it a rushed behind, but the decision to kick toward the boundary wasn't stupid. Certainly better than some of Dane's dump kicks.

 

[sthmelb_dimmies]

I dunno that's exactly the sort of thing you won't be able to do in the AFL as a sub 70kg player. Like there are just going to be bigger and more explosive players in a centre bounce. Instead of being one of the better athletes on the field as an 17 year old you're one of the worst as a 20 year old.

How heavy to you think Cyril was?

 

[Wheresbuddy]

I get all the enthusiasm to want him to succeed. I'm in that camp too. I really want him to succeed.
But, not wanting to be negative, he looks out of place all of the time. Be it celebrating with teammates after goals or just running to positions after them. I dunno. He doesn't seem like he belongs to me. Feels a bit weird when I watch him play. Like he is awkward. I can't explain it.

That sounds like how I felt about Dawson

 

[CheapCharlie]

I get all the enthusiasm to want him to succeed. I'm in that camp too. I really want him to succeed.
But, not wanting to be negative, he looks out of place all of the time. Be it celebrating with teammates after goals or just running to positions after them. I dunno. He doesn't seem like he belongs to me. Feels a bit weird when I watch him play. Like he is awkward. I can't explain it.

I felt like that watching him until his game against Freo

 

[cherub]

That sounds like how I felt about Dawson

Equally, I think someone who isn't confident, or doesn't feel they have proven themselves can behave like that. Both of them didn't seem like overly confident players. When Dawson started playing consistent good football he seemed happier, more confident and more worthy of acceptance by the group. Having said that, I think we infer an awful lot from snippets of footage which is unlikely to be justified.

 

[caesar88]

Wowee I reckon we are just over-analysing everything about Stephens way too much.

He's going OK at the moment. A bottom 4 player in a top 6 side, so, you'd take that if you're his family back in SA cheering him on. I don't know how good he'll be. I don't think he's as good as a lot of our other youngsters, but I also know there's no prize for being the best 21 year old in the comp.

As for his personality, is it any of our business? We are a footy club of about 45 players. You will never get 45 of the same character types and I think that is what makes footy clubs pretty special places. But everything I've heard about Stephens suggests he's every bit as boisterous, extroverted and outgoing as the likes of McInerney, Warner, Blakey, Florent, Gulden, Hayward, Wicks etc. And one look at his Instagram shows he is very much OK with physical affection, and it's often with those aforementioned players. It suggests he's fitting in just fine with that crowd.

So he doesn't always show it on the field. Big whoop.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Wowee I reckon we are just over-analysing everything about Stephens way too much.

He's going OK at the moment. A bottom 4 player in a top 6 side, so, you'd take that if you're his family back in SA cheering him on. I don't know how good he'll be. I don't think he's as good as a lot of our other youngsters, but I also know there's no prize for being the best 21 year old in the comp.

As for his personality, is it any of our business? We are a footy club of about 45 players. You will never get 45 of the same character types and I think that is what makes footy clubs pretty special places. But everything I've heard about Stephens suggests he's every bit as boisterous, extroverted and outgoing as the likes of McInerney, Warner, Blakey, Florent, Gulden, Hayward, Wicks etc. And one look at his Instagram shows he is very much OK with physical affection, and it's often with those aforementioned players. It suggests he's fitting in just fine with that crowd.

So he doesn't always show it on the field. Big whoop.

Ha, is ANYONE as boisterous, extroverted and outgoing as The Chad?

But I do agree with your point. Seems over-analysing Dylan has become a sport in itself.

 

[caesar88]

Ha, is ANYONE as boisterous, extroverted and outgoing as The Chad?

But I do agree with your point. Seems over-analysing Dylan has become a sport in itself.

From what I've heard, Blakey & McInerney could give Warner a run for his money. But I mean, does that surprise anyone?

 

[Ballarat Bob]

I didn't think he was going to get enough first team chances this year and as a Sydney first round pick he's cursed anyway. But last couple of games he seems to be building in confidence and physically looks to have bulked up a bit.
Not someone I held that much hope out for tbh but he is proving me wrong. Cautiously optimistic now....

 

[Deccas]

How heavy to you think Cyril was?

his playing wieght was listed around 80kg. If you think you've found an exception to a general claim you can spend a few minutes on Google checking if it's really there before posting.

Sure there may be some exceptions, but as a general claim "sub 70 kilo teenage players aren't physically developed enough to dominate at the elite level of one of the most physically demanding games on the planet" seems a pretty safe position to take.

 

[ScrewInStuds]

Watching his Freo game there's definitely an AFL player there. Think the penny is starting to drop and will be a pretty useful contributor from next year onwards.

 

[ErrolisGoldun]

I get all the enthusiasm to want him to succeed. I'm in that camp too. I really want him to succeed.
But, not wanting to be negative, he looks out of place all of the time. Be it celebrating with teammates after goals or just running to positions after them. I dunno. He doesn't seem like he belongs to me. Feels a bit weird when I watch him play. Like he is awkward. I can't explain it.

Hahaha yep I can see that!

But one of the greatest cricketers of all time was the same!

Steve Waugh, was the worst celebrator and most awkward bloke, he never looked like he belonged! Didn’t matter for him in the end.

Some blokes are just like that, very funny call!!

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

Hahaha yep I can see that!

But one of the greatest cricketers of all time was the same!

Steve Waugh, was the worst celebrator and most awkward bloke, he never looked like he belonged! Didn’t matter for him in the end.

Some blokes are just like that, very funny call!!

It’s funny how once you are really good no one cares if you conform anymore.

Stephens had that great goal celebration last year, looked super pumped. I think he has lost a bit of confidence since then and it is taking a while to come back, but it is building. I hope he gets a long run at it this time. He will get there I think.