Collingwood young gun Jaidyn Stephenson takes out 2018 Rising Star award
JAIDYN Stephenson wasn’t sure if an AFL club would draft him because of his heart condition. So thankful is he to the Magpies that the now Rising Star has declared he has only just started paying the club back for its faith.
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COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley says Rising Star winner Jaidyn Stephenson could evolve into a defender given the teenager’s brilliant attributes.
Stephenson, 19, polled 52 out of a maximum 55 votes to deliver the Magpies their first Rising Star on the cusp of the club’s return to finals.
Stephenson — who munches 95 Weetbix every week — had his sights set on becoming an inside midfielder once he stacks more muscle onto his 77kg frame.
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But Buckley said he could end up anywhere.
“Given his attributes — his speed, game awareness, skills, willingness to take the game on and endurance — there’s no position he couldn’t take on,” Buckley told the Herald Sun.
“He’ll move up the field onto a wing as an outside midfielder and then if he shows that capacity to handle stoppages and the bigger bodies inside that (inside midfielder) could potentially be his path.
“But he could run off a halfback line or he could be a third tall defender coming across and impacting aerially.
“We had him earmarked as a wingman pre-season, but he’s been so important to our forward mix.”
Stephenson said he feared he would be overlooked at last year’s draft because of a heart condition.
But the Magpies received medical clearance and swooped at pick No. 6, with Stephenson declaring Friday’s gong was “the first 2 per cent” of paying the club back.
Collingwood is 11-0 when Stephenson has kicked multiple goals this season and 1-6 when he has been held goalless.
Stephenson is the first teenager to kick 34 goals in their debut season since Ben Cousins in 1996.
Stephenson was beaten by West Coast’s Brad Sheppard in Round 17 ahead of next week’s qualifying final rematch.
The Ferntree Gully boy expects to vacate the No. 35 after the finals, as per Collingwood tradition where the club’s top draft pick dons the famous number.
Stephenson grew up a Brisbane Lions fan idolising Jonathan Brown and wore his No. 16 as a junior.
“I’ll decide once the numbers open up,” Stephenson told the Herald Sun.
“I had a little chat to (Collingwood’s No. 16) Chris Mayne but I don’t think he’s too keen to give it up.”
Buckley said in Stephenson’s quiet games he had contributed in other areas, helping the freakish talent play all 22 games.
The Magpies love Stephenson’s defensive pressure with Buckley likening his closing speed to Hawthorn’s Cyril Rioli and Paul Puopolo.
“I’m not that fast at accelerating, but once I hit gear that’s when I’m at my quickest,” Stephenson said.
“It takes me a while — about 30m. I’m certainly no V8.”
Stephenson demolishes 15 Weetbix five days a week and 10 on the other two days.
“I’ve loved them since I started eating,” he said.
“Obviously five in the morning, five at lunch and five as a snack when I get home or after dinner.
“I love to drown them in full cream milk. That’s how mum made them as a youngster, with lots of milk and sugar so I just keep it like that.”
Buckley said Stephenson — who cuts his own hair — wouldn’t be overawed by finals.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see him handle it really well,” he said.
“We’re really confident in his capacity to focus on what he needs to focus on and play his part.”
RISING STAR LEADERBOARD
Jaidyn Stephenson (Coll) 52 votes
Tom Doedee (Ade) 42
Alex Witherden (BL) 32
Jack Higgins (Rich) 11
Jack Henry (Gee) 10
Oli Florent (Syd) 10
Cam Rayner (BL) 4
Ben Ronke (Syd) 2
Aaron Francis (Ess) 1
Ed Richards (WB) 1
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