Off-season recruit Dylan Stephens has already made a solid first impression at his new home.
The former Swan, who offers plenty of outside run and skill, was brought across from Sydney during the 2023 AFL Trade Period, and topped the pack of Roos that returned to training earlier this week in a 1.8km shuttle run.
He joined Julian De Stoop on SEN on Thursday afternoon to chat about North Melbourne and why he wanted a move to Arden Street.
"I'm still in the one-to-four-year category … the senior boys come back next week but it was good to have (some of) them come back this week, get involved and get involved with training," Stephens told SEN.
"I guess it's an option to train with the group or do the program by yourself … but it's been awesome to see so far, a lot of the boys have decided to come back early and get involved."
On his impressions of North Melbourne
"I see a lot of boys who are pushing themselves really hard and driving the standards … I'm really optimistic about where this group can go."
On making the move
"It was a tough decision at the time, and I put a lot of thought into it … I watched the last game of the year against Gold Coast when they won and I think that was a pretty big indication to me that the club's going in the right direction.
"There’s a lot of talent in the first-to-fourth year category that I really think can drive this club."
On his final year at the Swans
"I was pretty excited going into last season based off the year before, after making the Grand Final and playing some pretty good footy. It just didn’t really click, and I was still on the fringe.
"It was obviously a really good Swans side and I just felt there wasn't room for me, especially on the wing. I was just left out of the side a lot, and that was what led me to North Melbourne."
On the wing as his role
"I think so. For the next couple of years I'm looking at playing wing, and then hopefully being able to be that inside-outside midfielder … especially when the chips are down at times, and they need some run in there. But primarily wing, and hopefully as the years go on I can start to push inside a little bit more.
On the draw of North Melbourne's list
"That was a big part … the talent is massive. You look at Harry Sheezel and the year he had, and even when George Wardlaw came into the side and performed the way he did. I'm pretty optimistic about what’s ahead, and then next week we've got picks 2 and 3 and five in the first round. I think it’s really exciting."
