Bill Stephen
Encyclopedia
Bill Stephen was a former Australian rules football
er with Fitzroy Football Club
. He also coached Fitzroy and Essendon
.
in the VFL in 1947, Stephen was one of the best defenders in the league. He won the Fitzroy Football Club
best and fairest in 1950 and 1954 and played for Victoria 14 times. He went on to play 162 games and kicked 4 goals for the club., playing prominently from the back pocket
position.
Stephen also coached Essendon, from 1976–1977, with a 16 win, 27 losses and 1 draw record. His overall coaching record stands at 258 matches, 84 wins, 172 losses and 2 draws. He was sacked from Fitzroy in 1970 as he was recovering in hospital from pneumonia and also from Essendon in 1977. He resigned from his final VFL coaching appointment part way through the 1980 season, after coach the Lions into the finals in 1979 for the first time since 1960. He was also an assistant coach for South Melbourne and North Melbourne in between his stints at Fitzroy and Essendon.
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 with Fitzroy Football Club
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
. He also coached Fitzroy and Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
Fitzroy career
Recruited from Thornbury CYMS and making his debut with the Fitzroy Football ClubFitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
in the VFL in 1947, Stephen was one of the best defenders in the league. He won the Fitzroy Football Club
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
best and fairest in 1950 and 1954 and played for Victoria 14 times. He went on to play 162 games and kicked 4 goals for the club., playing prominently from the back pocket
Back pocket
In Australian rules football, the back pocket refers to a position on the field deep in defence.Back pocket players, situated in the backline, need to have good spoiling skills and usually, quality back-pockets are noted for their hardness....
position.
Coaching career
Bill Stephen coached Fitzroy on three separate occasions from 1955–57,1965–70 and 1979-80.Stephen also coached Essendon, from 1976–1977, with a 16 win, 27 losses and 1 draw record. His overall coaching record stands at 258 matches, 84 wins, 172 losses and 2 draws. He was sacked from Fitzroy in 1970 as he was recovering in hospital from pneumonia and also from Essendon in 1977. He resigned from his final VFL coaching appointment part way through the 1980 season, after coach the Lions into the finals in 1979 for the first time since 1960. He was also an assistant coach for South Melbourne and North Melbourne in between his stints at Fitzroy and Essendon.