Collingwood take risk on Jaidyn Stephenson at pick No.6 despite his heart condition

COLLINGWOOD’s Jaidyn Stephenson cried tears of joy after joining the Magpies and opened up about his heart condition which scared some clubs off.

Jaidyn Stephenson is considered one of the top prospects in this year’s draft. Picture: Getty

COLLINGWOOD’s Jaidyn Stephenson cried tears of joy Friday night pondering what his late grandfather would have felt at his meteoric rise.

The Stephenson family are die-hard Pies, with the 18-year-old raised watching “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire” asking his nan to mimic quizmaster Eddie McGuire.

But that emotion might also have been relief, as the Pies dramatically cleared him of any medical risk despite a genetic heart issue.

AFL DRAFT: EVERY CLUB’S PICKS

HEART CONCERN: CLUBS URGED NOT TO OVERLOOK STEPHENSON

Stephenson admitted to the Herald Sun after being taken at pick six that the issue with the electrical system of his heart was not yet fully diagnosed.

But the flashy half forward, who lit up the TAC Cup this year with his stunning performances, says it will not stop him from any aspect of AFL football.

Nathan Buckley with prized pick Jaidyn Stephenson. Picture: Getty

His selection capped a draft where the Pies added playmaker Tyler Brown, son of Gavin and brother of Callum, after matching Port Adelaide’s pick 50.

They also selected high-leaping 188cm forward Nathan Murphy, the former junior cricket star seen by some as a top-10 selection.

The 189cm Eastern Ranges midfielder/half forward Stephenson wowed recruiters with five goals and 28 disposals in the Under-18 championships and was best-afield in the All Star game.

“I am not much of a crying person but I definitely teared up,’’ Stephenson said.

“It has got something to do with the electrics of the heart, so it came up in an ECG. Structurally it’s all fine but in the ECG it shows a bit of a funny result.

“It is still not yet diagnosed. It’s still a query and we are doing genetic testing but it’s not diagnosable yet.

“I am on basic propranolol (beta blockers), I am on two of them three times a day and it’s the only hassle.”

He says there are no limitations on his training load, with the issue never affecting him mid-game so far.

“Honestly there is no worst-case. All of the other blokes here are at as much risk as I am, so there is no risk.”

Stephenson only returned from a nine-day cruise to New Caledonia into Sydney on Thursday, aware the Pies had been an interested observer.

The idea of Stephenson, Alex Fasolo, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Jamie Elliott all lighting up the Collingwood forward line is particularly enticing.

“Just to have my family with me in the room, my pa was a die-hard supporter and he would be rapt. I wish he was here to see it.

“It would be great to meet someone like Eddie McGuire. I have always grown up watching Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and nagging my nan to give me Eddie McGuire questions.

“To meet him would be great because my family barracks for Collingwood.”

Collingwood recruiting manager Derek Hine said there was no reason why Stephenson couldn’t play Round 1, adamant he addressed a need for speed at the Pies.

“We didn’t make a final decision until 2pm today. It was on the back of external and internal assessments from key medicos all around the world.

“Ruben Branson our doctor coordinated the information and if Ruben felt for one minutes he wasn’t going to stand up we wouldn’t have taken him.”

“He is just a real player of need for us, his speed on the outside, he has shown he can go back. So there is no reason why he shouldn’t play Round 1 if everything else stacks up.”

The Stephenson bombshell pushed 192cm South Australian key forward Darcy Fogarty outside the top 10 and to Adelaide at No.12 in a draft steal.

Carlton plumped for 184cm goalkicking midfielder Paddy Dow at No.3 and then took his Geelong Grammar School and Bendigo Pioneers teammate Lochie O’Brien at No.10.

O’Brien battled a knee injury in 2017 but the endurance machine will become an Andrew Gaff-type wingman for the Blues.

Pioneers talent manager Stephen Sharp said Dow was ready to play AFL for the Blues next year following Bryce Gibbs’ exit.

Paddy Dow is now a Blue. Picture: Getty

Dow’s stoppage acceleration will complement superstar Patrick Cripps in Carlton’s exciting young engine room.

St Kilda used its pair of top-10 picks on midfielders Hunter Clark and Nick Coffield.

Last year the Saints cashed in on Hawthorn’s desperation to secure Jaeger O’Meara by capturing its No.7 pick, and last night it was used on Dandenong Stingray Clark.

Clark evolved from an attacking halfback into an inside midfielder this year and is a good kick on both feet.

Coach Alan Richardson wanted a pair of midfielders and Northern Knights talent boss Rhy Gieschen said Coffield could develop from a halfback flanker to midfielder.

Gieschen said Coffield was a “bombproof” selection.

Nick Coffield is now a Saint.

“He’d suit their brand of footy and everything they stand for,” Gieschen said.

“High pressure with a strong focus on tackling, chasing and harassing. He’s got explosive speed and can turn defence into attack and defend really well one-on-one.”

Recruiters say the Brendon Goddard-type is a future AFL leader after he captained the Knights and Whitefriars College this season.

Western Bulldogs used the No.16 selection received after trading Jake Stringer on Ed Richards, the grandson of Ron Richards.

The Heath Shaw-type joins the kennel alongside No.9 selection Aaron Naughton, an intercepting key defender who lived in Victoria before relocating to Western Australia.