AFL 2021: Magpies pair encouraged to move out of house with Jaidyn Stephenson

New North recruit Jaidyn Stephenson was happily share housing with two former Magpies teammates – but now the trio has been split apart. Here’s why.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 24: Trey Ruscoe of the Magpies celebrates a goal during the round 13 AFL match between the Collingwood Magpies and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at The Gabba on August 24, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Jono Searle/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Collingwood encouraged two of its young players to move out of the house they shared with former teammate Jaidyn Stephenson.

In the latest chapter to the fallout from the Magpies off-season purge, the new North Melbourne forward seems to be persona non grata at the Holden Centre.

Irishman Anton Tohill and Western Australian forward Trey Ruscoe had lived with Stephenson last year.

While the Pies deny they ordered them to leave it’s understood it was suggested they seek new accommodation.

Ruscoe had been intending to stay in his current lodgings with Stephenson as he waited for a proposed move to new accommodation with Melbourne forward Luke Jackson, a fellow West Australian.

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Jaidyn Stephenson at North Melbourne training. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

He is now in a club-managed apartment while Tohill, who was previously with a host family, is finalising new arrangements.

There have been numerous examples of players from rival AFL clubs living together and there are even partners in the AFLW who share a home but wear different jumpers on the weekend.

Stephenson, 22, and star midfielder Adam Treloar were the two high-profile casualties of Collingwood’s salary cap fire sale at the end of last season.

Both had messy exits from the club with coach Nathan Buckley criticised for his handling of the situation.

Stephenson, the 2018 Rising Star, claimed no-one spoke to him about being traded and he had to ring Buckley for confirmation.

Anton Tohill.

Trey Ruscoe.

“It all happened very quickly at my end,” Stephenson said.

“I got a call from my manager about a week before the Trade Period started and he said ‘think they’re putting you up for trade’. I was shocked.

“I thought I’d get on the front foot and I gave Bucks a call. He said to look for a trade and they’d facilitate it.”

Stephenson had been a revelation at the Magpies playing 54 games, including the 2018 Grand Final in his first season, and kicked 76 goals.

He did strike trouble off-field during his second season when he was handed the biggest suspension ever to the AFL player for breaching wagering rules.

Stephenson, copped a 22-game ban, with 12 games suspended, and fined $20,000 for placing $36 worth of bets through a friend’s betting account.

He conceded he also struggled in the hub environment last year but there was no hint of being moved on in his exit interview at the end of the season.

New North Melbourne coach David Noble has used Stephenson, who signed a five-year deal when he arrived at Arden St, more in the midfield over the pre-season.