AFL 2022: Sydney wingman Dylan Stephens reveals why he rejected rival clubs’ interest to stay at the Swans

Sydney’s Dylan Stephens, like other high draftees, was tipped to make an instant impact, but it didn’t work out that way. Now, after early challenges, he will play in a preliminary final.

Dylan Stephens has cemented his spot in the Swans’ senior side after struggling for opportunities earlier in the year. Picture: Getty Images

Sydney winger Dylan Stephens is brutally honest about how his season – and potentially career – turned around mid-year.

Dropped after “one poor game” in round 3, a frustrated Stephens was still stuck in the VFL when the Swans lost to Port Adelaide 11 rounds later.

The prized No.5 pick in the loaded 2019 AFL draft had played only 18 senior matches more than halfway through his third season, nine months after re-signing despite interest in him from Collingwood, Adelaide and Essendon.

Coach John Longmire’s feedback was simple and direct: Stephens had to improve defensively if he expected to play in Sydney’s senior side.

Stephens also admits he sometimes was guilty of comparing his progress with draft peers such as Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson, Luke Jackson, Lachie Ash, Hayden Young and Caleb Serong.

Dylan Stephens relished the chance to play in a high-stakes final. Picture: Getty Images

Then came a stroke of luck, at least from the 21-year-old’s perspective.

Justin McInerney and Harry Cunningham entered the AFL’s Covid protocols and couldn’t play the next week, on top of Colin O’Riordan being unavailable through injury.

Stephens’ chance had arrived. If the Swans’ disappointing performance against Essendon a few weeks later proved a turning point, this match was also important from a selection viewpoint.

Ryan Clarke, Robbie Fox and Tom Hickey were also among the Swans’ inclusions that round.

They all, including Stephens, played in the club’s rousing qualifying final victory over reigning premier Melbourne at the MCG.

“To be honest, at that point in time, I wasn’t playing very good footy at all in the VFL, so I think, for me, in that scenario, it was just a bit of luck,” Stephens told News Corp.

Dylan Stephens hasn’t always had it easy since arriving at the Swans as a high draft pick. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“Ever since that day – when I finally came in – I’ve just made (the defensive side) a focus of mine; to just play my role as well as I can up and down the wing, running hard, then getting after the opposition as well.

“The big thing is when you get your opportunity, you have to take it with both hands. I was lucky enough to do that over the next few weeks, then build from there. Now it’s paying off, so I’m really happy.”

The Crows, one of his most ardent trade suitors and keen since his draft year, watched Mildura-raised Stephens gather a career-most 25 disposals, kick a goal and lay six tackles at their expense in his fifth game back.

But despite the speculation about his future, he never even got to the point of meeting with another club.

“It was too early for me to just give up on it. You kind of look back on it now and think what a good decision it was for me,” Stephens said.

Dylan Stephens, pictured right with Tom Papley, is glad he stuck it out at the Swans despite several Victorian clubs trying to prise him out of the club last year. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“It was the best thing – I think morally as well – to stick it out and fight for my spot. We were a good side, so it wasn’t due to us playing poorly and me just not getting a run.”

Stephens has also formed strong relationships with several teammates.

He lives in a five-bedroom house in Maroubra with the Warner brothers, Chad and Corey, as well as Logan McDonald and mid-season draftee Hugo Hall-Kahan.

That’s partly why the qualifying final result meant so much to Stephens.

“It was a pretty unreal night, to be honest, and it didn’t really sink in for a bit that we’d got into a prelim,” he said.

“As soon as we won, I remember me, Chad and Errol (Gulden) – we’re pretty close mates – were all just hugging and we held onto that hug for about a minute, I reckon.

Dylan Stephens can’t wait to play Collingwood in Saturday’s preliminary final at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“It was just an awesome moment and awesome night overall – and I’m keen to go again.”

Two days later, Stephens was presented with the perfect opportunity to reflect on how far he had come in the past couple of months, when he ventured out to Blacktown to support Sydney’s VFL side in its semi-final.

“The last time I was out at Blacktown; I was playing VFL and miles off playing AFL,” Stephens said.

“I was out of the side for 10 weeks and it was pretty tough, so if you told me I was going to be playing in a final and locking myself in for a preliminary final, I would have said you’re kidding yourself.

“It’s a bit surreal, really, and I can’t believe it. It’s important I got that experience; just to learn to be really grateful and not take anything for granted, particularly with the situation I’m in right now.”