John Stephens (Australian footballer)

Infobox afl player | firstname = John
lastname = Stephens




birthdate = 15 September 1950
birthplace = East Melbourne
originalteam = Sandringham
heightweight = 175 cm / 76 kg
dead =
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = Round 1, 1971
debutteam = St Kilda
debutopponent = Geelong
debutstadium = Kardinia Park
playingteams = St Kilda (1971-73)
* 43 games, 91 goals
coach =
coachingteams =
statsend = 1973
careerhighlights =

John Raymond Stephens (born 15 September 1950) is a former Australian rules footballer 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 and although he participated in the finals series the following season he 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. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/31/31331.html|title=Victoria v Queensland 1970/71| publisher=CricketArchive] 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.

References

External links

*AflRleague|ref=J/John_Stephens.html
* [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7715.html Cricinfo Profile: John Stephens]