Jack Steven
2014 Price: Supercoach $593,100
2014 Position: MID
2013 averages: 109.9 (22 games)
2012 averages: 89.8 SC (21 games)
2011 averages: 78.2 SC (20 games)
2010 averages: 62.5 SC (8 games)
For a number Supercoaches out there, selecting the premium midfielders for the upcoming season is a regimented process. The likes of Ablett, Swan, Pendlebury, Selwood & Watson are often chosen without even blinking an eyelid.
Now I’m not saying this is a bad thing, in fact it’s quite a good thing considering these ‘SC stalwarts’ keep performing year after year & its all but guaranteed that they will average 110+. Sometimes you have to go outside the square and go for someone different.
Guys that are still solid performers, but nobody seems to have the guts to pick them in their starting lineup. A good example of this is St Kilda young gun Jack Steven.
2014 Position: MID
2013 averages: 109.9 (22 games)
2012 averages: 89.8 SC (21 games)
2011 averages: 78.2 SC (20 games)
2010 averages: 62.5 SC (8 games)
For a number Supercoaches out there, selecting the premium midfielders for the upcoming season is a regimented process. The likes of Ablett, Swan, Pendlebury, Selwood & Watson are often chosen without even blinking an eyelid.
Now I’m not saying this is a bad thing, in fact it’s quite a good thing considering these ‘SC stalwarts’ keep performing year after year & its all but guaranteed that they will average 110+. Sometimes you have to go outside the square and go for someone different.
Guys that are still solid performers, but nobody seems to have the guts to pick them in their starting lineup. A good example of this is St Kilda young gun Jack Steven.
Jack Steven had an unbelievable 2013 season, managing to take out St Kilda’s Best & Fairest award & polling 8 votes in the Brownlow Medal (Only winning 5 games). To go with this Steven had an awesome Supercoach year! The 23 year old averaged an impressive 110 (12th Overall) to go with his 13 scores over 100. The hard running midfielder was virtually untaggable, with opposition sides being unable to keep up with him (a good sign for scoring output). The loss of Nick Dal Santo now means Steven will be #2 opposition target (behind montagna) so this may raise concerns, although thus far into his career the tag hasn’t presented an issue for him.
Mr Consistency
Often when we look for players to add to our teams consistency is a huge factor. With coaches expecting a constant output, Jack Steven certainly provides this. From his 22 Games played he managed to pull off 13 games over 100 (including three games over 150!) and had a season low total of only 78! That’s simply amazing, considering the likes of Ablett & Swan went lower than this! Quite tremendous stats for a guy who has only played 73 games of AFL and at 23 years of age he can only get better.
In 10 hit-outs against ‘top 8’ sides in 2013, Steven managed to average a remarkable 115.8 (higher than season), proving that his ability to stand up in big games.
1 game that comes to mind was in round 23 up against soon to be grand finalists Fremantle. He managed to rack up a personal best 47 possessions, 4 tackles, 6 marks & a goal in a remarkable performance. To make this even more impressive, this was all on prolific tagger Ryan Crowley (although Crowley was winning lots of his own ball).
In 10 hit-outs against ‘top 8’ sides in 2013, Steven managed to average a remarkable 115.8 (higher than season), proving that his ability to stand up in big games.
1 game that comes to mind was in round 23 up against soon to be grand finalists Fremantle. He managed to rack up a personal best 47 possessions, 4 tackles, 6 marks & a goal in a remarkable performance. To make this even more impressive, this was all on prolific tagger Ryan Crowley (although Crowley was winning lots of his own ball).
Final Word
Now by no means is Jack Steven a cheap prospect in 2014 and his $593,100 price tag will turn-off a lot of coaches. However his premium output in 2013 means he may well be worth every cent! I can see Steven breaking the 115+ season average and he is certainly a valid selection as your 2nd or 3rd midfielder. Jack Steven has rarely missed a game in his past 3 seasons (63 from 68) played and this is a major attraction to his selection. With St Kilda in rebuilding phase I’m expecting he takes yet another step forward to lead by example for his younger counterparts.
St Kilda have a reasonable draw in 2014 & with Melbourne, GWS and West Coast in the opening 3 rounds he could well and truly start the year off with a bang. At 23 years of age Jack Steven (along with Tom Liberatore & Callan Ward) is a member of the next generation of Supercoach Guns and expect bigger and better things from him in 2014.
St Kilda have a reasonable draw in 2014 & with Melbourne, GWS and West Coast in the opening 3 rounds he could well and truly start the year off with a bang. At 23 years of age Jack Steven (along with Tom Liberatore & Callan Ward) is a member of the next generation of Supercoach Guns and expect bigger and better things from him in 2014.
Verdict
2014 Predicted Status: Elite
Predicted Average 2014: 115
Selection Status: Steven is currently in my starting lineup & is a genuine POD Premium.
Predicted Average 2014: 115
Selection Status: Steven is currently in my starting lineup & is a genuine POD Premium.