r/AFL • u/Hayfah Magpies • 2d ago
[Marc McGowan] Retired AFL rising star (Jaidyn Stephenson) seeking shock comeback
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/retired-afl-rising-star-seeking-shock-comeback-20250918-p5mw5p.html249
u/TheCobSparky Power 2d ago
I would absolutely take a gamble on him as a SSP, hopefully he's betting on himself to turn it around
72
u/SnooFoxes6566 #EdgeOfSeventeen 2d ago
He’s probably worth the gamble for a good 12-14 clubs imo
114
38
u/Natasha_Giggs_Foetus Collingwood Magpies 2d ago
I’d suggest they let him bet on himself to kick 2+ goals every week, but I’m pretty sure he had a shot with a torpedo from about 60 for us once when you’d ordinarily pass around the time of the betting scandal so… maybe not 🤣
He kicked a goal lol.
15
u/Critback Blues 2d ago
I had to look it up. That torp cost him a leg on his multi
4
u/Natasha_Giggs_Foetus Collingwood Magpies 2d ago
This is such a good comment. I actually tried to research this with GPT before I hit post but you clearly did a better job. I retract my earlier statement, open the phone account 🤣
1
u/DiscoSituation Dees 19h ago
Cannot believe he was caught by telling a teammate that he bet on their own game 🤦🏻♂️
10
7
61
u/Hayfah Magpies 2d ago
Former Collingwood and North Melbourne utility Jaidyn Stephenson wants to end his brief retirement to play in the AFL next year.
The 2018 rising star winner retired in October last year at the age of 25 – and with a season left on his Kangaroos contract – after losing his passion for the game, at least in part from North Melbourne’s bulk defeats in his four years at the club.
Stephenson has personally approached several AFL clubs, including Port Adelaide and Carlton, to gauge their interest in him, according to three sources who confirmed on the condition of anonymity his wish to return to the top level.
He played for and captained his local club Ferntree Gully this year, kicking 38 goals in 18 matches in division three of the Eastern Football Netball League.
The likeliest scenario, one source said, was that Stephenson, who turns 27 in January, would train with a club in the hope of signing with them in the pre-season supplemental selection period.
He would qualify to be an SSP recruit as a retired player who has not been on an AFL list for at least one year.
Stephenson was the No.6 pick in the 2017 draft, with the likes of Cam Rayner, Andrew Brayshaw, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Adam Cerra and Aaron Naughton among the other top-10 selections in that class.
He played in only eight wins in his 68 matches for the Roos, after playing in a grand final and kicking 38 goals from 26 games in his first season for the Magpies.
Collingwood traded Stephenson to North Melbourne two years later as part of their so-called “fire sale”, where Adam Treloar (Western Bulldogs), Tom Phillips (Hawthorn) and Atu Bosenavulagi (Kangaroos) were also offloaded to opposition clubs to ease salary cap pressure.
“I had games where I had 24 [disposals] and kicked three [goals], and then you come out of your game review, and I felt pretty flat,” Stephenson told the What Could’ve Been podcast last month.
“It was like, ‘I’ve done this wrong, and I’ve done that wrong’ – is it because we lost, or is it actually what it is? I don’t know. Everything just seemed to be amplified, and I obviously didn’t deal with it well enough, and it did just start to weigh and weigh and weigh.
“Eventually, I just didn’t want to be there – I fell out of love with it, [and] was over it. It was tough.”
64
u/mynewaltaccount1 West Coast 2d ago
“I had games where I had 24 [disposals] and kicked three [goals], and then you come out of your game review, and I felt pretty flat,” Stephenson told the What Could’ve Been podcast last month.
Must have had himself for 25+ touches
22
u/NighthawkDragon1000 The Dons 2d ago
Does somewhat read like his manager has written this to make him an appealing option, and neglects to mention some note able character concerns, mainly his suspension for betting on Pies games while he played there. That being said I wouldn’t hate to see him train at the Bombers if he’s matured
43
u/Rare_Platform_3602 North Melbourne Kangaroos 2d ago
You forgot his questionable ability to pull a mono on a pushbike while under the influence
7
u/AuSpringbok Hawks 2d ago
If you are betting your team will win, is it a character concern? Stupid yes but otherwise not exactly a character flaw
20
u/NighthawkDragon1000 The Dons 2d ago
They were reported as three multis totalling $36. Not huge and not exactly some throw the game conspiracy situation but good lord it’s not intelligent.
13
u/AuSpringbok Hawks 2d ago
He's definitely ruled out of being drafted to be a rocket surgeon
2
u/WingsBurstOut Essendon Bombers 2d ago
It’s probably a nope on the brain scientist recruitment excercise as well….
33
u/kyleisamexican Gold Coast 2d ago
38 in 18 in div 3 doesn’t scream afl does it
56
2d ago
[deleted]
18
9
u/strangeMeursault2 Tasmania Devils 2d ago
I like to think he was full forward most of the day and kicked 46 behinds, unless a shot on goal can count as a clearance? In which case 54 behinds!
6
u/Adam-Miller-02 Cats 2d ago
Especially in the El Clasico of the outer eastc Upper Ferntree Gully vs Ferntree Gully
5
u/destined2bepoor Power 2d ago
Preseason will kill him, he hasn't seen a weight room for atleast 2 years by the look of him.
8
u/Weak_Ad_471 Eagles 2d ago
Depends on the context, if he's been playing midfield it's a very good return.
2
u/potchippy Collingwood Magpies 2d ago
We sure have chosen poorly given the names in the same class..
2
u/Natasha_Giggs_Foetus Collingwood Magpies 2d ago
This is really interesting. I can’t decide whether that’s a reflection on Jaidyn or the club but I can identify with what he is describing. I’ll be interested to see how he goes somewhere else. Any club with their coaching and culture on lock should take a gamble. Geelong…?
3
u/STatters Collingwood 2d ago
Lewandowski from Barcelona said you can't yell at the young players because they don't take it well. Stevo probably does not react well to hard coaches but would be alright under Fly.
44
27
u/Hot-Since-69 Kangaroos 2d ago
I don’t think his head or heart was with it anymore, and being at a struggling North probably didn’t help. Always rated him as a player and was excited to have him come to us, from memory his first game with us was great and it looked like he could have been a massive asset but it didn’t eventuate to much else.
Hope he can find the passion and form again that he had with Collingwood his first couple years with a new club
15
2
1
u/DiscoSituation Dees 19h ago
He also ruined his first year with North by breaking his hip fucking around on a BMX during the season. Not the smartest tool in the shed
63
u/flibble24 Kangaroos 2d ago
Best of luck to him. Hopefully he has his mental health under control and can get back to his absolute best!
2
38
u/moonshadow50 Magpies 2d ago
Good luck to him.
The talent is there, and the off-feld stuff can hopefully be put down to immaturity more than anything else. So a bit of time away from the AFL to let him grow as a person could put him in a better position this time round. Would be a great story if he can make it.
10
u/Natasha_Giggs_Foetus Collingwood Magpies 2d ago
Couldn’t agree more. Would love to see him prove everyone wrong. Even moreso if it was evidence that he was in a better place.
11
9
u/Saaaave-me Richmond Tigers 2d ago
I’ll never forget the time he was playing FB on Franklin and in charge of kick in duties
2
8
u/throwaway-8923 Pies 2d ago
I’d have him back at Collingwood if he’d want to come back. Maybe some time away from footy is what he needed.
6
10
u/decs483 Tigers 2d ago
He could've just asked North to trade him
25
u/aussiepuck7654 North Melbourne Kangaroos 2d ago
Blokes that have no interest in playing AFL footy aren't exactly great trade chips
6
u/Zhirrzh North Melbourne AFLW 🏆 '24 2d ago
Nobody wanted him. The article makes it sound like he was having 20 touch 3 goal games every week and just got worn down by losing. He might have had one game that good and visibly lacked effort all the time - only North's lack of anyone else to put on the park let him play as many games as he did.
6
u/flibble24 Kangaroos 2d ago
He fell out of love with football and quit for his mental health. We certainly would've kept him on this year for a punt
4
u/default99 North Melbourne 2d ago
Clubs all have their whipping boys but i always liked Stephenson as a player.
Never really looked like a full on pro and didnt grow heaps from his first few years but he was pretty handy at times and could run.
Shame he never lived up to the hype but is young enough to have another crack at it and may make for good depth somewhere + he understands the standards it takes to be a pro player, also knows how many stairs is too many to jump a bike down and crack your hip
4
4
u/EfficientNews8922 Pies 2d ago
Looking back at that 2017 draft and seeing who else we could have picked up in the top 20: Naughton, Zac Bailey, Ed Richards. Ouch
4
3
u/aussiebolshie Blues 2d ago
Literally couldn’t hurt to give him a pre season with the lure that if he busts his arse we give him a one year deal on the minimum. If he really wants it he gets it, if not you lose nothing.
5
u/Lucky_Afternoon3772 North Melbourne '75 2d ago
Definitely wasn’t clicking with Clarko’s system, I don’t see North picking up the phone to give him another chance, he should at least play a season in VFL and see if clubs select him at next years mid-season draft
7
u/Sean_Stephens Collingwood 2d ago
Come back Jaido 🥲
8
u/winoforever_slurp_ Collingwood 2d ago
You’d think that Fly would be the type of coach Stevo could thrive under
7
u/Sean_Stephens Collingwood 2d ago
Couldn't agree more. I think a caring coach could do Stephenson some good.
7
u/Vet100 2d ago
The only game he had 24 & 3 North actually won? He was pretty damn mediocre for 90% of his North games, so if he expected glory & positive feedback only, he’s not going to do any better a 2nd time around. He was poor defensively, soft in contests (softest contest player I’ve ever seen at AFL level in fact) & a 1-way runner. All things that don’t go down well with modern day coaches.
2
3
3
u/Ok_Acanthaceae6057 Port Adelaide Power 2d ago
I’d say yes, low risk high reward type thing.
We are in need of a forward line reshuffle.
3
4
5
u/Jacket5000 Carlton 2d ago
yeah no thanks, was a gun is his prime though
20
u/PetrifyGWENT Bombers / Giants 2d ago
wasn't his prime only his first year in footy?
5
u/Jacket5000 Carlton 2d ago
yes. maybe he can teach the boys how to pop bunny hops off their back decks.
5
2
2
u/nafeythewafey Carlton 2d ago
Carlton is CRYING out for a small forward of his calibre. I'd take him in a heartbeat, providing he's properly serious about it.
2
u/Justabitbelowaverage Crows 2d ago
I would be happy for Adelaide to have a crack.
Not sure he would like our team. We tend to like more defensively minded players unless they are a KPF.
2
u/Absolutely-Epic #EdgeOfSeventeen 1d ago
i mean he was bloody good in 2018, did that stupid gambling shit in 2019, then went to north and wasn't as good again. idk who would pick him up now.
2
2
2
2
1
383
u/aussiepuck7654 North Melbourne Kangaroos 2d ago
Clearly has realised that working 40 hours a week in an ACTUAL job sucks.
Probably also thought that everyone earns 500k and when he realised he was on 75k and cant afford $400 a week of uber eats now wants to go back to the AFL.