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

 

[Kiama Chris]

But what's more important, that Stephens reach the same lofty heights as an inside mid, or that Stephens' outside game complements our own inside mids?

Both good players, with any kind of luck both will have good careers in well-performed teams. I'm very hopeful that Stephens will win at least a couple of premierships, less likely for Serong.
I hope both will look back with satisfaction.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

But what's more important, that Stephens reach the same lofty heights as an inside mid, or that Stephens' outside game complements our own inside mids?

The comparisons were always to Andrew Gaff. Elite outside runner with a nice kick, who gets to tons of contests.

Dylan’s outside game is complimenting our inside mids beautifully.

His only weakness seems to be his relative lack of a right foot kick.

 

[Bloods86]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2022-sydney-wingman-dylan-stephens-reveals-why-he-rejected-rival-clubs-interest-to-stay-at-the-swans/news-story/8ea8d9fe25457d3b70888d42dd9c93b2

 

[Ticky009]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2022-sydney-wingman-dylan-stephens-reveals-why-he-rejected-rival-clubs-interest-to-stay-at-the-swans/news-story/8ea8d9fe25457d3b70888d42dd9c93b2

Great get. I'll add this to the daily media post as well.

 

[hairy biker]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2022-sydney-wingman-dylan-stephens-reveals-why-he-rejected-rival-clubs-interest-to-stay-at-the-swans/news-story/8ea8d9fe25457d3b70888d42dd9c93b2

Comes across as a top bloke, with a real strength of character.

But despite the speculation about his future, he never even got to the point of meeting with another club.
“It was too early for me to just give up on it. You kind of look back on it now and think what a good decision it was for me,” Stephens said.
“It was the best thing – I think morally as well – to stick it out and fight for my spot. We were a good side, so it wasn’t due to us playing poorly and me just not getting a run.”

And each player seems to highlight the bond between them;

“As soon as we won (the QF), I remember me, Chad and Errol (Gulden) – we’re pretty close mates – were all just hugging and we held onto that hug for about a minute, I reckon.

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Bloody hell I love this club!


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[Membling]

Comes across as a top bloke, with a real strength of character.



And each player seems to highlight the bond between them;

Well. That is one way to completely win over a fan base

 

[BumbaT]

Comes across as a top bloke, with a real strength of character.



And each player seems to highlight the bond between them;

If the swans recruitment team bring along a checklist when they go around scouting potential players , I reckon the phrases "top bloke" and "real strength of character" have boxes next to them to be ticked.

 

[mcflyy]

If the swans recruitment team bring along a checklist when they go around scouting potential players , I reckon the phrases "top bloke" and "real strength of character" have boxes next to them to be ticked.

Great point. Have long thought we draft for character as much as talent. I always felt Stephens just needed a solid 10 game crack at it to find confidence at the level but was super impressed to read his comments about sticking out and fighting for his spot. That’s character.

 

[bedford]

Great point. Have long thought we draft for character as much as talent. I always felt Stephens just needed a solid 10 game crack at it to find confidence at the level but was super impressed to read his comments about sticking out and fighting for his spot. That’s character.

A few of us said that , he just needed a run like Bell had

 

[mcflyy]

A few of us said that , he just needed a run like Bell had

Exactly. His trajectory has been steep and I expect we will continue to see more and more why he was drafted so high. I recall Buddy saying in an interview a couple years ago that Stephens was the kid that he rated the most.

 

[Wheresbuddy]

If he keeps progressing and playing regular footy, I think he's a low flight risk. One of the reasons we took him was because he was a boarder at an Adelaide school (from Mildura) and thus was already use to living away from home and mature in his outlook. He seems happy around his mates so as long as his footy is going well, I reckon he stays.

 

[Kiama Chris]

If he keeps progressing and playing regular footy, I think he's a low flight risk. One of the reasons we took him was because he was a boarder at an Adelaide school (from Mildura) and thus was already use to living away from home and mature in his outlook. He seems happy around his mates so as long as his footy is going well, I reckon he stays.

Think his family has good values too and will have been encouraging him. Super pleased that he's broken through.

 

[Kapers]

Some of his contests were hard as nails

 

[The King!]

should have been pick 1

 

[Borough Blood]

Some of his contests were hard as nails

Didn’t shirk the Maynard contest late who is hard as nails.

 

[J_Moore]

Good boy Dyl

 

[Jewelsbon]

You can see he really feels a part of the team now. Great game yesterday.

 

[TheMase]

Didn’t shirk the Maynard contest late who is hard as nails.

Was that the contest that he went in hard, took the hit but won the ball cleanly?

Awesome stuff

 

[caesar88]

Posted in the autopsy thread in full but it also belongs here. Guts and exemplary use of the body.

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

It’s a term used loosely sometimes but he’s a natural footballer imo. He just looks smooth out there. Another preseason and he’ll be on a similar trajectory to Gulden and Rowbottom.


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[alex4445]

Never really understood the negativity surrounding him. Came into the side sooo skinny was never going to be immediately successful and took some time to learn that outside role he is playing now. I can understand wanting a top 5 pick to be ready to go very quickly but it was really a bit unrealistic to expect it from him.

He still has a few preseasons to continue to build up physically and I think he is the sort that will just keep getting better year after year and will be one of our younger players driving us towards grand finals over the next few years.

 

[caesar88]

It’s a term used loosely sometimes but he’s a natural footballer imo. He just looks smooth out there. Another preseason and he’ll be on a similar trajectory to Gulden and Rowbottom.


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Agree with this. I actually wonder if playing more with those youngsters has helped accelerate his development as much as the performance of our senior core. Not dismissing the impact and example set by our leaders, but I think there can be just as much inspiration from your peers as a young player.

You're looking around seeing your close mates who are all the same age as you (give or take) and they're taking the game on, playing fearlessly, making mistakes but moving on from them, themselves only in their first few finals of their lives. It has to become infectious. A "If they can do it, what's stopping me?" kind of mentality.

 

[bloodsbigot]

should have been pick 1

Let's not go nuts.

 

[bloodsbigot]

You can see he really feels a part of the team now. Great game yesterday.

He never used to smile at all. Used to consistently look sad even during the song.