I've been looking at Stephens' game and trying to work out why he isn't getting more games in the seniors. In some of the other VFL games he has been a touch underwhelming, but today he was one of the best.
Certainly he is athletically capable: quick enough and runs all day. He can read the play and knows where to go to win possession. No issue with physicality, has an excellent handball, and is capable in front of goal. I think the problem may be his kicking. He can pinpoint a long pass but fluff a short kick in the next minute. I'd be surprised if his kicking efficiency was over 60%.
Perhaps I am reading too much into a small sample size? Have any other VFL watchers observed this?
He was good today - no doubt. He really ran all day and set up some great forward moves. He is better when the ball is fed out to him via a hand pass or short kick out wide. I don't think he is as good at winning his own ball which is more of a problem when he is in the seniors and cannot rely solely on being fed the ball. To me, he plays a bit like Bradley Hill at St Kilda but he is not as good with disposal as Hill. There is definitely something to work with there.
Great to see Fox back playing well, and from what I saw on the stream, he had a decent game. His 'scrapper' qualities would be beneficial in the backline at the moment in Seniors I think.
"You get the feeling that like Monty Python's Black Knight, the Swans would regard amputation as merely a flesh wound."
Stephens is a good kick, but often makes a poor decision by trying to kick the ball when under too much pressure to execute the kick properly, so it goes out of bounds or to the opposition. He should look for other options in those situations. It's better to go for a 50-50 situation than give away possession. It should be something he can correct.
Side v Richmond
Sydney Swans VFL v Richmond - Round 10
Lakeside Oval, 2:05pm
2. Hayden McLean
3. Dylan Stephens
4. Ryan Clarke
17. Will Gould
18. Callum Sinclair
25. Ben Ronke
28. Lewis Taylor
32. James Bell
33. Marc Sheather
35. Barry O'Connor
36. Joel Amartey
37. Corey Warner
38. Colin O'Riordan
41. Lachie Rankin
42. Robbie Fox
43. Lewis Melican
46. Lachlan McAndrew
52. Nic Shipley
53. Jake Bartholomaeus
55. Harry Morrison
60. Jordan Endemann
64. Will Collis
Emergencies
54. Angus Anderson
56. Darcy Cordell
61. Max Geddes
65. Jeremy Laidler
Quarter time
Swans 3.5 (23) Richmond 3.2 (20)
Sydney goals: Amartey Collis Endemann
Richmond goals: Cumberland Mansell Sonsie
Dominating possession and locking the ball in our froward half but not converting enough.
Stephens getting a lot of it but squandering it as well. Bell looks like a star at this level which illustrates the yawning chasm between AFL and VFL. Gould has done a couple of impressive things.
A continuation of the 1st quarter, dominating inside 50s and territory with some poor finishing.
Halftime
Swans 5.11 (41) Tigers 5.3 (33)
Swans goals: Ronke 2 Amartey Collis Endemann
Tigers goals: Cumberland Mansell Henderson Parker Sonsie
Bell and Stephens leading disposals with 18 each
Bookmarks