Dylan Stephens was still coming to grips with sharing the hallways of Sydney Swans headquarters with star teammates like Lance Franklin, Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker.
But Sydney’s top 2019 draft pick last month found himself blinking in bright lights, striding up red carpet and soaking up the company of Peter Bedford, Bernard Toohey, Lewis Roberts-Thomson and a host of other club greats at The Star.
Stephens was one of nine new Swans presented their jumpers at the 2020 Guernsey Presentation and Hall of Fame Induction Dinner, presented by Volkswagen, joining Sam Gray (Port Adelaide), Lewis Taylor (Brisbane) and Kaiden Brand (Hawthorn), as well as draftees Will Gould, Elijah Taylor, Chad Warner, Brady Rowles and Barry O’Connor.
The silky-skilled midfielder was joined at the prestigious event by his parents, dad Rob and mum Ollie – and he said he could scarcely believe the occasion.
“It’s amazing, really,” Stephens told SwansTV.
“This time last year, who would have thought I’d be at a night like this? It’s very special. I was talking to my mum before and she was saying, ‘Bloody hell, I can’t believe we’re here’, with the set-up and where we are and all the people around us. It’s amazing for me and my family.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to get to the AFL and for it to finally happen and to be at an event like this is surreal. It still hasn’t sunk in three months after getting drafted.”
Stephens became the Swans’ first pick five since 2012 premiership co-captain Jarrad McVeigh in 2002, and he’s since inherited McVeigh’s number-three jumper.
Sydney drafted Stephens from South Australian club Norwood, Gould from South Australian club Glenelg, Taylor from Perth, Warner from East Fremantle, Rowles from the Bendigo Pioneers in Victoria and O’Connor from Ireland.
Gould’s parents, Richard and Jane, joined their son for the Guernsey Presentation and Hall of Fame Induction Dinner – and Gould was thrilled the night had arrived.
“It’s very special. We’ve been looking forward to it for a while. Ever since stepping through the door us young boys have only wanted to get our guernseys,” Gould told SwansTV.
“We really feel like this is home and to have my parents here – it’s amazing for them to get to witness it as well.
“Whether I first play in the AFL or the NEAFL I won’t be too fussed at all. It’ll be an absolute honour to pull on the jumper for my first game, and to be able to run out there with the boys in the AFL or the NEAFL will be something I never forget.”
O’Connor’s parents, George and Ellen, travelled more than 17,000 kilometres for the glamorous evening and a tour of the club’s Moore Park headquarters.
“I’m in awe tonight of all the greats who’ve gone through the club,” O’Connor told SwansTV.
“I’m getting a good idea of what sort of club I’m coming into. It’s just so special and something that a few years ago I never thought would happen. To be here is fantastic.”
