Dylan Stephens (Drafted by Sydney)

[Dees247 140]

I would love us to grab Dylan Stephens, with either of our picks. But I can’t recall him being linked to us in any way. Am I missing out on something here? 

[JakovichScissorKick 771]

He does look awesome in his highlight video.

[BAMF 4,485]

https://afl.draftcentral.com.au/tag/dylan-stephens/

Norwood/South Australia | Balanced Midfielder
08/01/2001 | 182cm | 70kg

Stephens is another lightly built midfielder who despite being just 70kg has forced his way into the SANFL League side for Norwood already in season 2019. Given the Redlegs’ tendancy to restrict kids from being exposed at the top level – see Luke Valente last year – it is a credit to Stephens – and teammate Taheny, to already earn their stripes. He has held his own too, admitedly playing a very outside game, but with many bigger bodies at the Redlegs, Stephens has terrific skills and moves well in transition, able to win the ball in midfield, take off and kick perfectly inside 50. He still has to add bulk to his frame, but he showed when taking on his peers he is capable of playing an inside role as well. Expect him to be the prime mover for South Australia at the Under 18 Championships and raise his stocks with a big couple of months.

He was one of the my choices in the poll.

Highlights are great. Looks very outside though. I wonder if we are still placing a high priority on players who can win a contest which will mean we overlook him?

Seems to me he is the number 1 pick from SA? Wouldn't be surprised to see the Crows pick him up at pick 4.

Couple of paywall articles if you have a login

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/the-eyecatching-run-of-dylan-stephens-is-his-no-1-asset-but-its-josh-kellys-allround-game-that-he-wants-to-emulate/news-story/b19e0a5590ef00bb838686020a4e1a98

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/norwood-youngster-dylan-stephens-has-spoken-to-all-but-one-afl-side-ahead-of-the-2019-draft/news-story/a34acc488c1596a27a976e5490ba6817

 

 

[olisik 4,060]

Was a yes for me until we got Langdon, Tomlinson, Bennell, maybe Murray and low chance Martin.

[DeeSpencer 26,682]

I wanted to check if he met the magical 30% contested ball percentage and he does

National champs: 32 of 94 = 34%
SANFL: 80 of 244 =33%
SANFL ressies: 38 of 64 = 59%

Apart from that I think at 182cm - ok but not anything useful for the air, good but not great pace and a nice kick but maybe not Whitfield style lasers on both sides is he just below the top 5 in the draft? 

And then is he the best of an even bunch that rate from 5-15? 

Would be very happy to get him at pick 8 but he might be gone and there might be other options that help us more.

[DeeSpencer 26,682]

27 minutes ago, olisik said:

Was a yes for me until we got Langdon, Tomlinson, Bennell, maybe Murray and low chance Martin.

Assuming the club knows the likely result with Martin I can't see the others on that list impacting our draft plans. 

Bennell's almost no chance to play games, Murray's a slim chance to play well enough to hold down a spot, Tomlinson will be useful for 3-4 years as a role player which leaves only Langdon as a long term player. Whilst he locks down a wing spot we still have long term needs of run and class off half back, half forward and the other wing.

[Lord Travis 10,819]

Stephens looks the goods and I’m hoping we land him at pick 8. I think he’s surprise a few by performing well very early in his career despite not having a big body. His pace, agility and goal scoring ability mean he can start as a half forward and progress into the midfield over time.

His pace is really good, which those highlights showcase. We’re in the fortunate position having two top 10 draft picks in possibly the quickest lot of top draftees ever.

[Deefender 254]

Stephens will hit the ground running.

I’d take him at 3.

Edited November 6, 2019 by deefender
Clarity

[Demon Dynasty 17,166]

Young at 3

Stephens at 8

If for some reason we miss then it's Kemp and barring those two Kozzie.

If we split the pick we more than likely miss all three.  Just get the best available unless a fairy tale pick swap/scenario presents on the night.

Would need to be 10 and an early 20ish to have any chance of landing a dynamic double in say Stephens/Kemp (likely to be 7ish to 11ish) + Kozzie (20ish).

[Dees247 140]

3 hours ago, Dees247 said:

I would love us to grab Dylan Stephens, with either of our picks. But I can’t recall him being linked to us in any way. Am I missing out on something here? 

People are missing my main point here. I have never heard him linked to us. Not once. Has anyone ever heard linked to the Dees?

[MikeAlphaTango 150]

2 minutes ago, Dees247 said:

People are missing my main point here. I have never heard him linked to us. Not once. Has anyone ever heard linked to the Dees?

What does that matter? The draft is still weeks away.

Anyway, watching these videos on YouTube with this young kid who interviews draft hopefuls, Stephens is a Victorian and only been in SA for the past 3 years on a scholarship.

 

[Dees247 140]

3 minutes ago, MikeAlphaTango said:

What does that matter? The draft is still weeks away.

Anyway, watching these videos on YouTube with this young kid who interviews draft hopefuls, Stephens is a Victorian and only been in SA for the past 3 years on a scholarship.

 

It matters in that we have been linked to most of the players in the top group, but not him (as far as what I have heard). This could suggest that he is not up there in our thinking. I could be wrong about this of course. I was hoping someone else may have heard that we rate him highly. This doesn't mean that we won't draft him of course. Anything (within reason), could happen.

[durango 2,024]

Does anybody know why he's in a group to undergo medical testing?

[Moonshadow 17,678]

Young at 3, Stephens or Kemp at 8.

I'd be disappointed if we split the picks.

[Watson11 2,252]

1 hour ago, Dees247 said:

It matters in that we have been linked to most of the players in the top group, but not him (as far as what I have heard). This could suggest that he is not up there in our thinking. I could be wrong about this of course. I was hoping someone else may have heard that we rate him highly. This doesn't mean that we won't draft him of course. Anything (within reason), could happen.

I don’t believe we have put a lot of time into him, which is probably because we don’t think he is pick 3 but expect him to go to Sydney, Crows or Freo who all need outside speed. 

[Skuit 10,031]

It's like some twisted exposure therapy to determine if a patient has truly recovered from MFCSS as claimed: 

Stephens is another

lightly built

midfielder

being just 70kg

SANFL League side

[rjay 25,424]

2 hours ago, Skuit said:

It's like some twisted exposure therapy to determine if a patient has truly recovered from MFCSS as claimed: 

Stephens is another

lightly built

midfielder

being just 70kg

SANFL League side

 

12 hours ago, BAMF said:

Highlights are great. Looks very outside though. I wonder if we are still placing a high priority on players who can win a contest which will mean we overlook him?

Once bitten...always wary of outside players from SA.

[BAMF 4,485]

8 minutes ago, rjay said:

 

Once bitten...always wary of outside players from SA.

Toumpas had great skills but average speed and endurance coming off hip injuries. Stephens doesn't have these deficiencies but isn't as smooth as Toumpas.

In my mind they are completely different type of players.

However, I understand the concern.

[Skuit 10,031]

18 minutes ago, rjay said:

 

Once bitten...always wary of outside players from SA.

I could have added 'Norwood' (and would have if it wasn't my life-long team) as it hasn't been the happiest of hunting grounds for us in recent years. And for other teams as well, in respect to light-bodied mids - not mentioning any names - cough cough - legendary bloodline - cough cough - James 'have fun in Fremantle' Aish. The exception of course being uber Alex Georgiou. 

[rjay 25,424]

46 minutes ago, BAMF said:

Toumpas had great skills but average speed and endurance coming off hip injuries. Stephens doesn't have these deficiencies but isn't as smooth as Toumpas.

In my mind they are completely different type of players.

However, I understand the concern.

Not just Toumpas 'BAMF'...as 'Skuit' mentions above but there are more.

[Moonshadow 17,678]

1 hour ago, rjay said:

Once bitten...always wary of outside players from SA.

Don't think he's just an outside player.

12 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

I wanted to check if he met the magical 30% contested ball percentage and he does

National champs: 32 of 94 = 34%
SANFL: 80 of 244 =33%
SANFL ressies: 38 of 64 = 59%

 

Edited November 6, 2019 by Moonshadow

[Watson11 2,252]

1 hour ago, rjay said:

 

Once bitten...always wary of outside players from SA.

If we don’t draft from states where we had previously drafted duds then all we can draft is 6’11” ex kiwis?

[58er 6,872]

9 hours ago, Watson11 said:

I don’t believe we have put a lot of time into him, which is probably because we don’t think he is pick 3 but expect him to go to Sydney, Crows or Freo who all need outside speed. 

No as much as us!!!

[Skuit 10,031]

35 minutes ago, Watson11 said:

If we don’t draft from states where we had previously drafted duds then all we can draft is 6’11” ex kiwis?

Sounds like a good approach to me. Add pizza-gobbling smokers to the criteria and it's practically fool-proof. 

[Deefender 254]

You haven’t heard any mention of Stephens from the Club?

Good. I hope Jason Taylor is playing a strategic game, keeping his cards close to his chest.