Jaidyn Stephenson awarded Pennington Medal as Eastern Ranges’ best and fairest

EXCITING prospect Jaidyn Stephenson added to his growing collection of accolades after storming home to take out the Pennington Medal as the Eastern Ranges’ best and fairest.

Jaidyn Stephenson flies for a mark earlier this year. Picture: Getty Images

EXCITING prospect Jaidyn Stephenson added to his growing collection of accolades after storming home to take out the Pennington Medal as the Eastern Ranges’ best and fairest.

Touted as one of the top picks at next month’s draft, Stephenson, 18, wasn’t in the top five after Round 13 but finished a runaway winner at Friday night’s count.

He polled the most votes in five of the last six games to finish with 117 votes.

Jaidyn Stephenson takes home the @Eastern_Ranges Pennington Medal as the best and fairest. Polled most votes in five of final six games. pic.twitter.com/VkiA9Q381t

— Toby Prime (@T_Prime2) October 13, 2017

Stephenson, who described his opening games of the season as “a little bit lazy at times”, polled a staggering 70 votes in the final six games.

The Ferntree Gully product grabbed the lead at Round 16 and finished 31 votes clear of runner-up Harrison Nolan, while Tom North finished inside the top three for the second consecutive year.

Stephenson was listed as Ranges’ best player in the final three games of the season, showing his trademark zip and attacking flair through his run and carry.

“I guess it was just off workrate I guess, the harder I worked the better I played and I could have been a little bit lazy at times at the start of the year and wasn’t pushing myself but once I did I started playing better footy,” Stephenson said.

“I thought I started slow and I thought I’d get a few (votes) on the back end but I just didn’t think I’d have enough at the start of the year to keep me in contention.”

Jaidyn Stephenson is viewed as a top-10 pick at next month’s draft. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Playing his junior football as a forward, Stephenson spent more time up the ground this year, averaging 23 disposals, five marks, five tackles and a goal a game across his 15 TAC Cup appearances.

He collected 28 touches and kicked five goals in a starring display for Vic Metro against South Australia at the under-18 national championships, setting the bar for the rest of his season.

“Working up to that game, every game I’d been getting better and better and I think just hit the point where I tried to play consistently from there,” he said.

Stephenson now has a nervous wait until the November 24 draft, where he is viewed as a top-10 pick.

“It has been a great year and a great last few years at the Ranges so looking forward to what the future holds,” he said.

“I think if I was lucky enough to get drafted I’d start as a forward and gradually work up onto the wing and hopefully my body progresses as an inside mid.”