John Stephens (Australian footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Raymond Stephens is a former Australian rules football
er who played for St Kilda in the VFL
during the early 1970s. He also represented Victoria
at first-class cricket
.
Stephens was a goal kicking rover and after managing eleven majors in a VFA game for Sandringham was picked up by St Kilda.
He played the first six games of the 1971 VFL season
before succumbing to a thigh injury which would keep him out of the side for the rest of the year. St Kilda made the Grand Final that year. He was St Kilda Football Clubs leading goalkicker in 1972 and participated in the finals series, but again missed out on playing in the decider when Carlton defeated the Saints in the Preliminary Final, on the back of a seven goal effort from Alex Jesaulenko
.
A consistent performer up forward, only four times in his league career did he fail to kick a goal in a game. He topped St Kilda's goal-kicking in 1972 with 53 goals, including four in their Elimination Final win over Essendon.
As a cricketer, Stephens was a left-handed middle order batsman and appeared in a total of four first-class matches in the 1970/71 and 1971/72 Sheffield Shield seasons. On his debut against Queensland at the MCG he made his highest score of 48 in the second innings. Stephens finished his career with a disappointing 123 runs at 15.37. He had played with fellow VFL footballers Peter Bedford
, John Scholes
and Max Walker
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for St Kilda in the VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
during the early 1970s. He also represented Victoria
Victorian Bushrangers
The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
at first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
.
Stephens was a goal kicking rover and after managing eleven majors in a VFA game for Sandringham was picked up by St Kilda.
He played the first six games of the 1971 VFL season
1971 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1971.-Premiership season:In 1971, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
before succumbing to a thigh injury which would keep him out of the side for the rest of the year. St Kilda made the Grand Final that year. He was St Kilda Football Clubs leading goalkicker in 1972 and participated in the finals series, but again missed out on playing in the decider when Carlton defeated the Saints in the Preliminary Final, on the back of a seven goal effort from Alex Jesaulenko
Alex Jesaulenko
Alex 'Jezza' Jesaulenko MBE is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. He is regarded as one of the game's greatest-ever players and is an official Legend of the Australian Football Hall of Fame...
.
A consistent performer up forward, only four times in his league career did he fail to kick a goal in a game. He topped St Kilda's goal-kicking in 1972 with 53 goals, including four in their Elimination Final win over Essendon.
As a cricketer, Stephens was a left-handed middle order batsman and appeared in a total of four first-class matches in the 1970/71 and 1971/72 Sheffield Shield seasons. On his debut against Queensland at the MCG he made his highest score of 48 in the second innings. Stephens finished his career with a disappointing 123 runs at 15.37. He had played with fellow VFL footballers Peter Bedford
Peter Bedford
Peter Lawrence Anthony "Wheels" Bedford is a former Australian Rules footballer. He is best known for his time at Victorian Football League team South Melbourne, but he also played eight games for Carlton....
, John Scholes
John Scholes
Walter John Scholes was an Australian first-class cricketer and coach. He also played 30 games of Australian rules football for North Melbourne Football Club between 1967 and 1971 scoring 35 goals as a rover before a knee injury cut short his football career.Scholes was a successful junior...
and Max Walker
Max Walker
Maxwell Henry Norman Walker AM is a former Australian cricketer and VFL/AFL footballer. Formerly an architect, he currently works as a media commentator and motivational speaker and has diverse business interests.- Football career :...
.