Dylan Stephens Explained

Dylan Stephens
Birth Date:8 January 2001
Birth Place:Mildura, Victoria
Originalteam:Norwood (SANFL)
Draftpick:No. 5, 2019 AFL draft,
Debutdate:12 July 2020
Debutstadium:The Gabba
Height:184 cm
Weight:79 kg
Position:Midfielder
Guernsey:15
Years1:2020–2023
Games Goals1:43 (11)
Years2:2024–
Games Goals2:13 (0)
Games Goalstotal:56 (11)
Statsend:round 20, 2024

Dylan Stephens (born 8 January 2001) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was initially recruited by the Sydney Swans with the fifth pick in the 2019 AFL draft.[1] [2]

Early football

Stephens played junior football for his local club, Red Cliffs Football Club.[3] [4] He attended Red Cliffs Primary School and then Red Cliffs Secondary College.[5] He later attended and played football for St Peter's College in Adelaide, while on a football scholarship.[3] Stephens played for Norwood in the SANFL for the 2019 season, where he played 13 games and kicked six goals.[6] [7] [8] Stephens also represented South Australia in the AFL Under 18 Championships, where he ended up winning the award for Most Valuable Player in the South Australian Side, as well as selection in the All-Australian Under 18 side.[9] [10]

AFL career

Stephens debuted in the Swans' eight point loss to the Richmond Tigers in the 6th round of the 2020 AFL season, alongside teammate Chad Warner.[11] [12] [13] On debut, Stephens collected 11 disposals, 5 marks and 4 tackles, and kicked a behind.[14]

Stephens was in and out of the Swans through 2021 and the first half of 2022, before a consistent run of games through 2022 including being included in the team for the 2022 AFL Grand Final.[15] [16]

A contract extension signed in 2021 committed Stephens to the Swans until the end of 2023.[17] Stephens played in the opening game of the 2023 season against the Gold Coast Suns, amassing 27 disposals.[18] On 11 October 2023, Stephens was traded to .[19]

Statistics

Updated to the end of Round 10, 2024.[20] |-| 2020 || || 3| 8 || 2 || 3 || 68 || 32 || 100 || 27 || 27 || 0.2 || 0.3 || 8.5 || 4.0 || 12.5 || 3.3 || 3.3|-| 2021 || || 3| 7 || 1 || 1 || 30 || 29 || 59 || 20 || 8 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 4.2 || 4.1 || 8.4 || 2.8 || 1.1|-| 2022 || || 3| 15 || 5 || 2 || 171 || 67 || 238 || 63 || 38 || 0.3 || 0.1 || 11.4 || 4.5 || 15.9 || 4.2 || 2.5|-| 2023 || || 3| 13 || 3 || 3 || 113 || 63 || 176 || 37 || 32 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 8.7 || 4.8 || 13.5 || 2.8 || 2.5|-| 2024 || || 15| 7 || 0 || 0 || 57 || 26 || 83 || 13 || 17 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 8.1 || 3.7 || 11.8 || 1.9 || 2.4|- class=sortbottom! colspan=3 | Career! 50 !! 11 !! 9 !! 439 !! 217 !! 656 !! 160 !! 122 !! 0.2 !! 0.2 !! 8.8 !! 4.3 !! 13.1 !! 3.2 !! 2.4|}

Notes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dylan Stephens. Footywire. 26 August 2020. 6 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201006155515/https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-sydney-swans--dylan-stephens. live.
  2. Web site: Three Croweaters taken in First Round. Milbank. Zac. SANFL Media. November 2019. 26 August 2020. 8 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200808144430/https://sanfl.com.au/league/news/three-croweaters-taken-in-first-round/. live.
  3. Web site: The school behind Stephens. 25 August 2020. Sydney Swans FC Media. 26 August 2020. 31 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210331065742/https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/801183/the-school-behind-stephens. live.
  4. Web site: Dylan Stephens steadily rising at Swans. Dearlove. Angus. 21 August 2020. 26 August 2020. Sunraysia Daily.
  5. Web site: 2020-08-24 . The school behind Stephens . 2023-09-14 . sydneyswans.com.au . en . 31 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210331065742/https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/801183/the-school-behind-stephens . live .
  6. Web site: Dylan Stephens. Aussie Rules Draft Central. 26 August 2020. 28 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200628015108/https://afl.draftcentral.com.au/player/dylan-stephens/. live.
  7. Web site: Stephens to the Swans. November 2019. 26 August 2020. NorwoodFC Media. 22 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200922015958/https://norwoodfc.com.au/news/stephens-to-the-swans/. live.
  8. Web site: The first five croweaters picked. 26 August 2020. AdelaideNow.
  9. Web site: Dylan Stephens starred for South Australia. It's why his national carnival self-assessment seems so harsh. Balmer. Matt. Fox Sports. 19 November 2019. 26 August 2020. 14 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230914154256/https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-draft-2019-dylan-stephens-afl-draft-prospects-midfielder-south-australia-connor-rozee/news-story/e9642e790b8f5b8d1711c23b385f8637. live.
  10. Web site: Pick five: Dylan Stephens. 27 November 2019. 26 August 2020. Sydney Swans FC Media. 14 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230914154312/https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/308159/pick-five. live.
  11. Web site: From Super Mario Kart to the big stage for two young Swans. 11 July 2020. Wu. Andrew. The Age. 26 August 2020. 11 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200711081037/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/from-super-mario-kart-to-the-big-stage-for-two-young-swans-20200710-p55b0t.html. live.
  12. Web site: Positive signs for Dylan Stephens in AFL debut. Di Fabrizio. Michael. Sunraysia Daily. 13 July 2020. 26 August 2020.
  13. Web site: Two to debut: Swans to unveil No.5 pick, bull-at-a-gate mid. Beveridge. Riley. AFL Media. 8 July 2020. 26 August 2020.
  14. Web site: Round 6 • Richmond v Sydney Swans - Player Stats. 26 August 2020. 10 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200810163013/https://www.afl.com.au/matches/2788#player-stats. live.
  15. Web site: Garb . Daniel . Late-blooming Swan 'still far from satisfied' . 16 April 2023 . 7 August 2022 . 16 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230416051302/https://www.afl.com.au/news/813818/late-blooming-swan-still-far-from-satisfied . live .
  16. Web site: Team line-ups . 16 April 2023 . 16 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230416051302/https://www.afl.com.au/afl/matches/4773#line-ups . live .
  17. Web site: Whiting . Michael . The last thing you want to do is...': Why young Swan stayed . 16 April 2023 . 19 February 2022 . 16 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230416051302/https://www.afl.com.au/news/705769/the-last-thing-you-want-to-do-is-why-young-swan-stayed . live .
  18. Web site: Whiting . Michael . Swans dominant in season opener . 16 April 2023 . 18 March 2023 . 16 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230416051301/https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/1285983/swans-dominant-in-season-opener . live .
  19. AFLHouse. 1711919548700745877. 11 October 2023. Trade paperwork approved..
  20. Web site: Dylan Stephens. AFL Tables. 2 September 2020. 12 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200812063626/https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/D/Dylan_Stephens.html. live.