Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
John William Stephen

Known as
Bill Stephen

Born
1 April 1928

Died
23 August 2020 (aged 92)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 18d
Last game: 29y 145d

Height and weight
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 80 kg

Senior clubs
Fitzroy

Jumper numbers
Fitzroy: 8

Bill Stephen

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
FitzroyV/AFL1947-195716240.0248%———59
Total1947-195716240.0248%———59

AFL: 5,647th player to appear, 1,106th most games played, 6,667th most goals kickedFitzroy: 632nd player to appear, 28th most games played, 507th most goals kicked

One of the finest defenders and indeed players of his era, back pocket specialist Bill Stephen won Fitzroy's best and fairest award in 1950 and 1954, and was an almost perennial 'Big V' representative player (14 appearances). He played a total of 162 VFL games for the Roys between 1947 and 1957, and was captain-coach for his final three seasons. After his retirement as a player he acquired a reputation as a first rate developer of young talent. He also had three separate stints as a non-playing VFL coach with Fitzroy (1965-70), Essendon (1976-7) and Fitzroy again (1979-80).

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

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Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.