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

 

[BloodySwan]

IMO if he wasn't pick five no one would care if he was stuck in the VFL or not. He's basically akin to Ryan Clarke now - a reserves accumulator of limited ability. No one's ever banging on the door demanding Clarke get an extended chance. What Stephens was when he was drafted shouldn't effect what he is now as a player.

However if we manage some of the best 22 players who should be managed, then there aren't many options better than Stephens to replace them. My hope is that the club gives up on this season as it's long gone, and Stephens will get a few games in the AFL midfield to close out the season. One last chance for him.

People lose their shit when Horse played Sheldrick as a forward. First round draft picks get piled with expectation regardless of where they were picked

 

[melbournehammer]

M

He isn’t better that Keats. Get a grip , that’s just rubbish

Keays is not even as good as Ryan Clarke and they play identically - terrible kicks good tackling run hard mids but I’d have Clarke over keays and I’d have Stephens over Clarke

 

[GoTheSwannies]

And that's fair enough , he didn't earn a spot in the finals for nothing , that showed he can play at the level .................

Agreed. Heading into finals last year, I was a little concerned about how Stephens would perform given he was young and a little timid throughout the season.

I thought he may be the type that went into his shell and not handle the pressure well but I was impressed with how he performed. He cracked in, had a decent impact and kicked that nice goal.

I do wonder whether he's told horse he was looking for a trade at the end of the year. Either that, or we've decided that based on our list and his strengths/weaknesses that he's a fair bit down the pecking order and we've told him that we'd like to put him on the market if there's a suitor.

 

[caesar88]

Agreed. Heading into finals last year, I was a little concerned about how Stephens would perform given he was young and a little timid throughout the season.

I thought he may be the type that went into his shell and not handle the pressure well but I was impressed with how he performed. He cracked in, had a decent impact and kicked that nice goal.

I do wonder whether he's told horse he was looking for a trade at the end of the year. Either that, or we've decided that based on our list and his strengths/weaknesses that he's a fair bit down the pecking order and we've told him that we'd like to put him on the market if there's a suitor.

I tend to think anyone who is surplus to needs is already at risk of being on the market anyway.

 

[Tedeski]

Except have any sort of influence with his possessions. If you can't do it in the reserves, what makes you worthy of a recall?

As a youngster in his early days, he becomes a reflection of what his senior team mates are producing.
I watched Port last night & in particular Marshall. He was terrible. So were the rest of Port's youngsters. That's what you get when those around you are producing some poor footy. He just should play until season's end IMO.

 

[Jewelsbon]

He isn’t better that Keats. Get a grip , that’s just rubbish

I'd swap Stephens for Keays in a heartbeat

 

[GoTheSwannies]

I tend to think anyone who is surplus to needs is already at risk of being on the market anyway.

Definitely, the point I was getting at is that whatever his skillset is, he's not flexible enough to be considered for a variety of roles, and he's down the pecking order in any other positions where his strengths lie. So I guess he just doesn't fit our current list, so yeah, he's surplus to our needs.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Still think he has a place for us in the midfield. Was ignored more often than not on the wing

Same thing happened to Corey on Thursday. Kept his width and was completely open heaps of times but we never switched to him once. Surely this gets raised in debrief? I can only guess we're not training it.

 

[caesar88]

Same thing happened to Corey on Thursday. Kept his width and was completely open heaps of times but we never switched to him once. Surely this gets raised in debrief? I can only guess we're not training it.

Horse has mentioned in numerous post-match press conferences this year how it's been more positive when we've gone long and direct to give our forwards the best chance. It's basically left our wingmen often ending up spectators a fair bit. But even out on the wing being ignored, you'll still have plenty of chances to assert yourself on the game - whether that's Gulden pushing in to basically be a fourth mid at centre bounces, or McInerney the other night being a tackling, pressure maniac. Stephens and, so far, Warner Jr. haven't shown that ability to make things happen for themselves beyond just their role of finding time and space.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Horse has mentioned in numerous post-match press conferences this year how it's been more positive when we've gone long and direct to give our forwards the best chance. It's basically left our wingmen often ending up spectators a fair bit. But even out on the wing being ignored, you'll still have plenty of chances to assert yourself on the game - whether that's Gulden pushing in to basically be a fourth mid at centre bounces, or McInerney the other night being a tackling, pressure maniac. Stephens and, so far, Warner Jr. haven't shown that ability to make things happen for themselves beyond just their role of finding time and space.

Stephens was a 15-20 disposal player at AFL level - but fell out of favour and is out of contract.

Corey Warner is yet to produce anything like that. And yet he’s signed long term.

Seems a bit curious to me - but of course I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes.

 

[TheMase]

Definitely, the point I was getting at is that whatever his skillset is, he's not flexible enough to be considered for a variety of roles, and he's down the pecking order in any other positions where his strengths lie. So I guess he just doesn't fit our current list, so yeah, he's surplus to our needs.

Pretty much this. We have better wingers than him and we have other players who are better on the inside than he is.

 

[TheMase]

Stephens was a 15-20 disposal player at AFL level - but fell out of favour and is out of contract.

Corey Warner is yet to produce anything like that. And yet he’s signed long term.

Seems a bit curious to me - but of course I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes.

Worth pointing out that Corey is almost three years younger than Stephens. Corey is 20 in October and Stephens is 23 in January.

Stephens arguably only started to show progress in year 3 (last year) and that’s next year for Warner.

 

[caesar88]

Stephens was a 15-20 disposal player at AFL level - but fell out of favour and is out of contract.

Corey Warner is yet to produce anything like that. And yet he’s signed long term.

Seems a bit curious to me - but of course I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes.

I don't know what's curious about that. Both extended beyond their initial draft contracts. Warner is still in the midst of that. Stephens - being two years older - is near expired. They're at different stages but got the same initial gesture of faith from the club.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

Stephens was a 15-20 disposal player at AFL level - but fell out of favour and is out of contract.

Corey Warner is yet to produce anything like that. And yet he’s signed long term.

Seems a bit curious to me - but of course I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes.

That's the part that makes me think he's told us he wants a trade at the end of the season. It's not as if C Warner is miles ahead and has runs on the board. To see him get a game ahead of Stephens is just odd.

So it seems like it's either an attitude thing, Stephens wants out, or we just don't see him in our future plans. I don't see how it's purely a performance based decision.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

I don't know what's curious about that. Both extended beyond their initial draft contracts. Warner is still in the midst of that. Stephens - being two years older - is near expired. They're at different stages but got the same initial gesture of faith from the club.

I just found it curious that Corey was extended through to the end of 2025 in August 2022 - before he’d even made a mark at VFL level, let alone AFL.

I saw that as a bit of an outlier - most “rapid extensions” on first year draftees tend to be on those who shine at AFL level early on.

Stephens didn’t extend til September of year 2.

Personally, I’m not yet sold on Corey - but the club evidently saw something very early on.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

I don't know what's curious about that. Both extended beyond their initial draft contracts. Warner is still in the midst of that. Stephens - being two years older - is near expired. They're at different stages but got the same initial gesture of faith from the club.

That's the thing that gets me though, C Warner is under contract, Stephens is out of contract and can look elsewhere and we get next to nothing. So the club's actions suggest that they're willing to let him walk.

I'm not suggesting that's the wrong decision, I just find it to be a curious one and wonder what the reasons are.

 

[GoTheSwannies]

I just found it curious that Corey was extended through to the end of 2025 in August 2022 - before he’d even made a mark at VFL level, let alone AFL.

I saw that as a bit of an outlier - most “rapid extensions” on first year draftees tend to be on those who shine at AFL level early on.

Stephens didn’t extend til September of year 2.

Personally, I’m not yet sold on Corey - but the club evidently saw something very early on.

The other part of the equation is keeping Chad long term, which could be another motive for playing Corey ahead of Stephens.

But it still comes back to the fact that the club appear not to think too highly of Stephens. Unless of course it's an attitude thing and Corey has proven himself on the training track and may have a higher celing, with a skillset that's more valuable than Stephen's.

 

[caesar88]

I just found it curious that Corey was extended through to the end of 2025 in August 2022 - before he’d even made a mark at VFL level, let alone AFL.

I saw that as a bit of an outlier - most “rapid extensions” on first year draftees tend to be on those who shine at AFL level early on.

Stephens didn’t extend til September of year 2.

Personally, I’m not yet sold on Corey - but the club evidently saw something very early on.

I mean, is it an outlier?

Nick Blakey extended before he'd even played a game.

James Rowbottom extended after three AFL games.

Justin McInerney extended after one 1-possession AFL game.

Ollie Florent extended after six AFL games averaging 9 possessions.

Matt Roberts extended after one 2-possession AFL game.

Generally if a club's been willing to use a national draft pick on a player, they will be prepared to extend them beyond their initial draft contract so they can see what they're working with.

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

Well its come down to a 3 disposal game with 70%+ time on ground is being preferred to Stephens.

Thats the bottom line.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Stephens was a 15-20 disposal player at AFL level - but fell out of favour and is out of contract.

Corey Warner is yet to produce anything like that. And yet he’s signed long term.

Seems a bit curious to me - but of course I don’t know what goes on behind the scenes.

Two differences I've noticed in their play are that Corey's disposals are more direct on a lower trajectory and are more often to advantage rather than to a pack. Better vision is my take.
The other is that Corey is harder. He hits harder and is harder to move off the ball.
At this stage I fear Dylan is close to his ceiling where Corey has a ways to go.

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

Pretty much this. We have better wingers than him and we have other players who are better on the inside than he is.

I think you are probably right. I’d still like to give Stephens an opportunity as inside mid still.

Some players dominate reserves and then flounder in the AFL. Some barely stand out in the reserves but lift extra levels in AFL.

I think there is an outside chance that Stephens may be one of those players. Worst comes to worst he plays some bad games and his trade value drifts out slightly further. Worth the risk I think.

 

[SeanM]

I did not mind Corey Warner getting a game ahead of Stephens. I feel he was going to get more benefit in his development in playing a one-off game than Stephens would have. Similar to how Sheldrick would have got some confidence for next season being able to play a few games in midfield.

My guess is they want Stephens to focus on his reserve form. Rather than bouncing back and forth between reserves and seniors. Reality is he is probably 4th choice winger behind Gulden, Mcinerney and Campbell who are all good players.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Dylan will join me the list of those who do better at other Clubs.

The contrast between the treatment he and Wayward receive is amazing.

 

[Swansujelly]

rekon Dyl is gone season end, was offered a contract and he said no, so no use playing him. Crows for mine, Judas has been in his ear.

 

[BloodySwan]

rekon Dyl is gone season end, was offered a contract and he said no, so no use playing him. Crows for mine, Judas has been in his ear.

He'll resign, just on less money than we originally offered. He did himself over, was likely offered 3 yrs but will only get 1 now