After two years on the Western Bulldogs supplementary list Powell was promoted to their senior side and played 30 games in three years - 21 of them coming in 1999. After 80 games for the Reserves over four years he finally found himself a regular spot, playing 21 straight games for the top four Dogs.

Given his emergence after years on the list it was a surprise that the Bulldogs then agreed to trade him to Melbourne at the end of the year in exchange for the #35 pick in that year's draft.

Seen as a replacement for the retired Todd Viney, Powell continued his good form with a breakout 2000 season in which he finished fourth in the Best and Fairest and was one of the best in his side's disappointing Grand Final loss.

At the end of the 2000 season he underwent an operation for Osteitis Pubis and a slow recovery that was initially supposed to see him miss the first few weeks of the season saw him eventually missed all of 2001. Powell returned for the 2002 season and was once again one of his side's best.

After a pay-dispute at the end of the 2003 season Powell walked out on Melbourne and was picked up for free by the St Kilda with the first selection of the pre-season draft. He remained with the Saints until 2006 when he retired.

http://demonwiki.org/Stephen+Powell

Jumper	Season	Club	GA	K	M	H	D	G	B	HO	T	FF	FA	BV
29	1997	Western Bulldogs	3	25	16	8	33	2	2	0	0	0	3	0
29	1998	Western Bulldogs	6	48	11	38	86	3	3	0	13	5	2	0
29	1999	Western Bulldogs	21	249	92	157	406	16	16	0	27	12	25	4
7	2000	Melbourne	25	339	109	240	579	32	20	1	29	20	22	3
7	2002	Melbourne	19	184	59	147	331	11	7	3	32	13	10	3
17	2003	St. Kilda	22	256	117	202	458	17	10	1	45	9	14	3
17	2004	St. Kilda	20	199	65	146	345	9	6	0	58	12	14	3
17	2005	St. Kilda	16	115	50	149	264	4	5	0	46	17	14	0
17	2006	St. Kilda	10	70	36	67	137	0	3	0	29	8	13	0
Totals			142	1485	555	1154	2639	94	72	10	279	96	117	16
Avg/Game			15.8	10.5	3.9	8.1	18.6	0.7	0.5	0.1	2.0	0.7	0.8

He had a great 2000 but the dreaded OP killed his 2001 and he just wasn't the same player in 2002.

I had OP in my last year in high school and I remember reading an article where Powell said it was so bad he would fall to the ground in pain getting out of bed. It was the same for me and it is an awful injury to have because it completely ruins your mobility (and libido). There were quite a few players in the early 2000s who got it but you dont hear about it much anymore. 

Edited October 10, 20178 yr by praha

10 minutes ago, praha said:

He had a great 2000 but the dreaded OP killed his 2001 and he just wasn't the same player in 2002.

I had OP in my last year in high school and I remember reading an article where Powell said it was so bad he would fall to the ground in pain getting out of bed. It was the same for me and it is an awful injury to have because it completely ruins your mobility (and libido). There were quite a few players in the early 2000s who got it but you dont hear about it much anymore. 

Whilst reading your post I was thinking the same thing.

I wonder why that is?

The true definition of a goal kicking midfielder during his prime years of 1999-2004.

32 goals from 25 games ain't a bad effort for a midfielder (back in 2000).

I think he kicked 7 goals combined in the 2000 prelim and grand final.

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

Whilst reading your post I was thinking the same thing.

I wonder why that is?

Maybe better training standards? Physio? I was playing state-level basketball, football and tennis at the same time, which I assume led to the injury. Also went through a growth spurt and I remember my physio saying it was common in boys my age who were highly active. I was lazy with my stretching and recovery though, so maybe that's a contributing factor? It was so tight that sitting stationary for more than 10 minutes and then standing up would have me literally screaming in pain. And then I'd tense up which would affect the muscles around and...well...let's just say I went from bouncing off the walls in all facets to not wanting to do anything or have anyone touch me.

It's a super sensitive area for obvious reasons so I imagine clubs just got on top of it (pun not intended) and managed the recovery of that area more. It's essentially an overuse injury, not something you get during a game or anything like that. So it makes sense that as training standards have improved, the rate of the injury has decreased.

 

His 2000 season was simply outstanding. His 32 goals were massive, but all of our midfielders kicked goals that year. A pity we can't get that sort of contribution from the current group.

One of my all time favourites.

Was an awful looking kick, but continually put them through from 50.

3 hours ago, praha said:

He had a great 2000 but the dreaded OP killed his 2001 and he just wasn't the same player in 2002.

I had OP in my last year in high school and I remember reading an article where Powell said it was so bad he would fall to the ground in pain getting out of bed. It was the same for me and it is an awful injury to have because it completely ruins your mobility (and libido). There were quite a few players in the early 2000s who got it but you dont hear about it much anymore. 

does op exist anymore? whatever happened to it (serious q)

Thaught he was our best player in 2000 granny.

3 hours ago, poita said:

His 2000 season was simply outstanding. His 32 goals were massive, but all of our midfielders kicked goals that year. A pity we can't get that sort of contribution from the current group.

Yeah we were a goal kicking machine in season 2000.

We kicked 100 points or more in 17 of our 25 games.

3 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Yeah we were a goal kicking machine in season 2000.

We kicked 100 points or more in 17 of our 25 games.

He was there you blink and he was gone. I suppose Melbourne didn't think he was worth much more. He walked.

 

An that 2000 season brings back memories. Powell was a revelation! 

 

If I recall correctly the dispute was over length of contract rather than pay - Saints offered him 3, we wouldn't budge on 2 so he walked. I remember thinking that he'd be well shot by the third year so giving him three would be reckless, but in hindsight I'd give him the three, even with that risk. Although he wasn't the player he had been in 2000, we'd clearly have been a better team in 03 and 04 with him in it.

It's a bit like the Jordan Lewis deal. He might fade away to nothing in year three, but so what when the alternative is not having him?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

My favorite memory of Powelly is the 2000 Prelim against the Kangaroos. He was brilliant that night, 33 touches and 4 goals. The Wizard also bagged 8, what a night it was. I was filthy when we lost him to the Saints for nothing in return.

On 10/10/2017 at 5:06 PM, Danelska said:

does op exist anymore? whatever happened to it (serious q)

Went the same way as repetitive strain injury (RSI)

Everyone used to have it and then it just became unfashionable.

he got more touches than a starlet auditioning for a Weinstein production.

6 hours ago, Nasher said:

If I recall correctly the dispute was over length of contract rather than pay - Saints offered him 3, we wouldn't budge on 2 so he walked. I remember thinking that he'd be well shot by the third year so giving him three would be reckless, but in hindsight I'd give him the three, even with that risk. Although he wasn't the player he had been in 2000, we'd clearly have been a better team in 03 and 04 with him in it.

It's a bit like the Jordan Lewis deal. He might fade away to nothing in year three, but so what when the alternative is not having him?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

We also had a salary cap squeeze. We invested in Yze and TJ while Powell and Woey were the collateral. 

Doubt we would have won a flag even if we kept all 4 but TJ didn't do much more outside of 2005 and Yze faded fairly substantially after being AA in 2002.

7 hours ago, Nasher said:

If I recall correctly the dispute was over length of contract rather than pay - Saints offered him 3, we wouldn't budge on 2 so he walked. I remember thinking that he'd be well shot by the third year so giving him three would be reckless, but in hindsight I'd give him the three, even with that risk. Although he wasn't the player he had been in 2000, we'd clearly have been a better team in 03 and 04 with him in it.

It's a bit like the Jordan Lewis deal. He might fade away to nothing in year three, but so what when the alternative is not having him?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Your recollection is spot on.

Powell was a great player, and he was super important to our resurgence in 2002. We were unlucky that year - took some big scalps whilst playing really exciting football. Crows got super lucky in the semi final at the G (Powell was knocked out with his first touch of the ball in the first quarter - one of the best games I have ever seen).

The club made a very big mistake in not retaining him following that year. Woewodin too. Got smashed culturally as a result.

Problem was Yze and Johnstone just had belter seasons and were out of contract. Collingwood really wanted TJ, and Carlton really wanted Yze, and they commanded big bucks to stay, which the club paid.

I was on Demonology at the time, and it was virtually a facsimile of the Jack Watts thread here. Those who blindly supported the FD's message on exiting Woey and Powell were ultimately wrong, although many of them then called for Daninher's scalp two thirds into the very next season. Even though I petitioned strongly to have the club retain Woewodin and Powell (and got criticised heavily for not seeing the light on the club's decision), those very same posters castigated me for defending Daniher 8 months later when they wanted him sacked as head coach.

The irony ...

 

 

Was also one of the best sledgers in the game. The whole handling of the acrimonious situation was just so typical of the MFC. 

He was easily one of my favourite players in the early 00s.

Two Powell's and two Scott brother's all in the same school team.... and the best did not play AFL......

He didn't leave because of a pay dispute. Melbourne were only prepared to offer him a 1 year contract because of his Osteitis Pubis yet he had an offer 2 or 3 years at St.kilda. They just wern't prepared to take a risk just yet.