Stephen Powell
Encyclopedia
Stephen Powell was an Australian rules football
er in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
A journeyman in the AFL, Powell made his debut with the Western Bulldogs
as a 20-year-old in 1997. He became known as a solid player whose hardness at the ball was very valuable, continuing this role as the Bulldogs reached preliminary finals in 1997 and 1998. Lack of pace, however, seemed to be his problem and at the end of 1999 he went to the Melbourne Football Club
. He was again traded at the end of 2002, this time to the St Kilda Football Club.
His experience at the Saints was important, and he was an often underrated player whose contributions were an important part of a midfield that included stars such as Lenny Hayes
, Robert Harvey
and Nick Dal Santo
. In 2003 he finished third in the Trevor Barker Award
and continued this form into 2004.
Powell played in St Kilda's 2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup
winning side.
In 2005, however, Powell's career hit a hurdle. Returning from injury in Round 9 he never quite reached the level of consistency of 2003, and lack of pace then became an issue, although he was a regular first team member. At the end of the year there were doubts about the future of the just-turned-29 Powell, but he later signed a one-year contract, meaning a sharp downward turn in speed and form limited Powell's chances.
2006 was Powell's last season of football, playing only 10 matches and announcing his retirement, in September, a week after St Kilda's exit from the 2006 AFL Finals Series
.
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 in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
A journeyman in the AFL, Powell made his debut with the Western Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
as a 20-year-old in 1997. He became known as a solid player whose hardness at the ball was very valuable, continuing this role as the Bulldogs reached preliminary finals in 1997 and 1998. Lack of pace, however, seemed to be his problem and at the end of 1999 he went to the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
. He was again traded at the end of 2002, this time to the St Kilda Football Club.
His experience at the Saints was important, and he was an often underrated player whose contributions were an important part of a midfield that included stars such as Lenny Hayes
Lenny Hayes
Lenny Hayes is a professional Australian rules footballer playing with St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League.Hayes is a former captain of St Kilda and continues to be an onfield leader in the Saints' midfield....
, Robert Harvey
Robert Harvey (footballer)
Robert Jeffrey Harvey is a former Australian rules football player for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League...
and Nick Dal Santo
Nick Dal Santo
Nick Dal Santo is an Australian rules footballer for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Early career:...
. In 2003 he finished third in the Trevor Barker Award
Trevor Barker Award
The Trevor Barker Award is an Australian rules football award for the player voted the St Kilda Football Club Club Champion during the home and away season in the Australian Football League by a voting panel....
and continued this form into 2004.
Powell played in St Kilda's 2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup
2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup
The 2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup was the Australian Football League competition played in its entirety before the Australian Football League's 2004 Premiership Season began...
winning side.
In 2005, however, Powell's career hit a hurdle. Returning from injury in Round 9 he never quite reached the level of consistency of 2003, and lack of pace then became an issue, although he was a regular first team member. At the end of the year there were doubts about the future of the just-turned-29 Powell, but he later signed a one-year contract, meaning a sharp downward turn in speed and form limited Powell's chances.
2006 was Powell's last season of football, playing only 10 matches and announcing his retirement, in September, a week after St Kilda's exit from the 2006 AFL Finals Series
2006 AFL finals series
- The finals system :The system is a final eight system. This system is different to the McIntyre Final Eight System, which was previously used by the AFL, and is currently used by the National Rugby League....
.