Flag winning Ferntree Gully coach remembers Collingwood pick Jaidyn Stephenson and Port Adelaide’s Sam Hayes as under-17s

THE side would’ve taken some beating: Ferntree Gully’s 2015 under-17 premiership side featured AFL draftees Jaidyn Stephenson and Sam Hayes.

Ferntree Gully premiership teammates Jaidyn Stephenson and Sam Hayes.

THE side would’ve taken some beating.

Ferntree Gully’s 2015 under-17 premiership side has delivered two AFL draftees, dynamic forward Jaidyn Stephenson off to Collingwood and star ruckman Sam Hayes recruited by Port Adelaide.

Danny Cassidy, who coached that 2015 premiership winning team, took enormous pride in seeing two Gully boys reach their dreams on Friday night.

Eastern Ranges ruckman Sam Hayes (left) takes on Dandenong Stingrays’ Joel Amartey during a TAC Cup final in September. Picture: Daniel Pockett (Getty Images)

Stephenson was one of the most exciting propects in this year’s draft pool and Collingwood did not hesitate in selecting the line-breaking talent with pick No.6.

Cassidy recalls Stephenson’s X-factor and matchwinning ability from a young age.

In that under-17 decider, Stephenson kicked the winning goal with just minutes remaining to seal the game.

“Just instantly you could see how blessed the boy was with natural talent and just drive, you couldn’t imagine a more natural born winner, natural born leader and that was something pretty evident early on,” Cassidy said.

“It was pretty emotional for myself and my wife (on draft night), she was in the corner balling her eyes out, just a real special type.”

Cassidy remembers Hayes as an agile tall who played with a broken foot to kick four goals in the 2014 under-16 grand final.

“He does it a lot for fun without realising the opportunity he’s got but I think he’s starting to believe in that a little bit more,” he said.

“He’s in the game for the right reasons, he plays for the fun and not what’s going to come with it in terms of where it can take him with success.”

Jaidyn Stephenson in his new colours. Picture: Quinn Rooney (Getty Images)

Hayes was speculated as a top-five pick as recently as last month but slid through to the Power’s first selection in the draft in the third round.

“For me and Stevo to go as well from the Gully was really good and I was really happy for Stevo,” Hayes said.

“It was a bit of a long night going out to pick 47 but, at the end of the day, I’m not going to let a number define me or who I am, I wasn’t really phased what number I was going.

“It was a fantastic night and Port Adelaide seems like such a great club, can’t wait to be joining them and I can’t wait to get started.”