Jaidyn Stephenson starred in 2018 but is struggling for same influence in the midfield

Jaidyn Stephenson exceeded all expectations in 2018, snagging 38 goals from 26 games to claim last year’s Rising Star award. But the young Magpie is still finding his way this year as Nathan Buckley tries to find the right midfield formula.

AFL. Round 3. 06/04/2019. Collingwood v West Coast at the MCG. Collingwood's Jaidyn Stephenson. Pic: Michael Klein.

He was the first-year revelation who added razor-sharp edge to Collingwood’s forward half last season.

Jaidyn Stephenson exceeded all expectations in 2018, snagging 38 goals from 26 games to claim last year’s Rising Star by a runaway margin.

But the blistering ballwinner from Ferntree Gully has taken a big step up into a stacked midfield this season.

ROUND 4 TEAMS: CROWS, BOMBERS SWING AXE

MICK McGUANE: HOW DUSTY CAN BEAT THE TAG

The return of two-time leading goal kicker Jamie Elliott to the forward 50m has pushed Stephenson further up the ground so far this year, as exclusive Champion Data heat maps show (see below).

But three games into the new season, you wonder whether the Pies in fact miss his pace and elite pressure closer to goal, when they’ve already got so many stars in the middle.

Jaidyn Stephenson is roaming further afield this year. Pic: Michael Klein.

Collingwood swooped on Stephenson with pick No. 6 in late 2017 knowing the speedster would likely evolve into a dashing wingman or line breaking half back flanker throughout his career.

“What he can do is show you electrifying bursts and a sidestep from hell,” said Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton

But while he possessions all the weapons to become a fully-fledged star of the competition in the middle of the ground, the Magpies will take their time working out what their best midfield mix is this season.

There have been some teething issues for Nathan Buckley’s A-Grade engine room which now includes ex-Brisbane skipper Dayne Beams.

A look at Jaidyn Stephenson's changed role.

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd said the Pies’ new midfield group, including Beams and Stephenson in 2019, was the best engine room in the game’s history, on paper.

“This is arguably the deepest and best midfield the game has ever seen,” Lloyd said.

But the Magpies’ ballwinners had their colours lowered by reigning premier West Coast last week and need to topple the Western Bulldogs tonight to avoid falling to a 1-3 loss to start the season.

It will be a stern test against blue-chip ballwinners Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae, Lachie Hunter and Tom Liberatore, who is back to his best in the clinches.

In attack last year, Stephenson’s forward pressure acts directly contributed 76 points for the Magpies across the season — ranked fifth in the AFL.

Up the ground this year, the 20-year-old has won more of the ball, averaging three more disposals a game so far this season.

The Magpies’ jet also slotted two majors in the 44-point win over the Tigers in Round 2.

But his forward line pressure (24 to 17.4) and tackles (2.9 to 1.7) have dropped slightly in his second season. That’s where he created havoc last year, in the forward half.

But now those pressure duties are on Jordan De Goey and Elliott.

Normally a sharp ball-user, one of Stephenson’s first-term kicks inside 50m to an open Jamie Elliott was intercepted by Tom Barrass last Saturday night.

His handball into Mason Cox, who could have snapped a goal from point blank range, was also foiled by a desperate Jack Redden.

Later in the third quarter, Stephenson skewed a kick off the side of his boot out of bounds on the wing as West Coast made its charge.

He was a little off.

It hasn’t all gone to plan for Collingwood, but Buckley is still spinning the magnets in a bid to find out what works best in 2019.