DRIVEN to keep playing at the highest possible level and a newfound thirst for coaching brings North Ballarat Roosters’ triple premiership ruckman Orren Stephenson home.
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The 32-year-old says he is physically the fittest he has ever been, thanks to three years as a full-time AFL player.
Stephenson returns to Eureka Stadium as a Selkirk Roosters’ playing assistant coach, working with the midfield alongside Paul Jennings, and will also take up a post as North Ballarat Rebels talls coach in the TAC Cup under-18 program.
Stephenson was drafted to Geelong, aged 29, at the end of the 2011 VFL season to then-AFL premier Geelong, was delisted, then picked up by Richmond where he has spent the past two seasons.
It was at Punt Road Stephenson worked closely with Port Adelaide premiership coach and Tigers senior development coach Mark “Choco” Williams in learning and understanding the art of coaching.
“He was real hard on me in my first couple of practice matches with the Tigers and has helped me improve on a whole range of things ... he’s very strong and very passionate about his football.”
The experience of being drafted as a mature-age recruit to Geelong, among a band of 18-year-olds, sparked Stephenson’s interest in working with young players.
“A lots of kids will always come close to being drafted and miss out but I think I am a good example of persistence and gives them someone that has made it to the AFL.”
Coming from a rugby background in Albury-Wodonga, Stephenson took up the game aged 17 and emerged as a talented player with Redan in the Ballarat Football League, where he was a dual premiership player (2002-03).
He joined the Roosters in 2005, in Gavin Crosisca’s first year as coach, initially as an understudy to former Carlton and North Melbourne ruckman Mark Porter and almost returned to Redan at the end of 2006.
There was AFL interest along the way – Hawthorn, Carlton, St Kilda – as Stephenson continued to build a stellar VFL career with the Roosters as a triple premiership player (2008-10), Norm Goss best on ground in the 2009 grand final, a four-time VFL team of the year and two-time interstate player.
Stephenson also played in a VFL premiership with Geelong in 2012. He played 15 AFL games.
But it felt right to bring his career back to Ballarat, where he and wife Whitney and children Emilie, Sophie and Patrick remained living, and to give back to the Roosters.
melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Anaylsis, page 174
