Jaidyn Stephenson to push case to play against Richmond after missing Collingwood’s Round 1 win
If Nathan Buckley wants to pick Jaidyn Stephenson for Round 2, it means he will have to drop one of Josh Daicos, Callum Brown or Tyler Brown – all of whom played important roles in the Magpies’ opening win.
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Collingwood speedster Jaidyn Stephenson will ramp up his case for a Round 2 recall when the Pies launch into another full-scale match simulation session this week.
The Pies held two match simulation sessions last week to help shrug off any rust in before their bumper clash against Richmond at an empty MCG on Thursday week.
Stephenson, 21, looms as one of Nathan Buckley’s toughest selection dilemmas this week after he was left out of their Round 1 demolition job on Western Bulldogs.
The dangerous goal kicker is one of the club’s most threatening forwards in only his third season, with his blistering speed and burst play particularly well-suited to the shortened quarters.
But he faces a big week on the track with the Magpies set to have another look at the No.6 draft pick when they have a third competitive match simulation session later this week.
Mobile forward Brody Mihocek managed some foot soreness last week but brushed aside any concerns over his fitness when he took part in the competitive hit-out on Friday.
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Tall Mason Cox missed the session with a knee complaint and will open the door for new recruit Darcy Cameron to step in for Cox if he is unable to rejoin the main training group by the end of the week.
Stephenson was short on fitness for the Round 1 clash against the Bulldogs after he was sidelined over summer with a frustrating bout of glandular fever.
The energy-sapping illness slowed the Eastern Ranges product after missing 10 weeks last season to a betting ban. He returned in time for September and averaged 17 possessions and 1.5 goals a game across the two finals matches.
He was quiet gathering five possessions in his only preseason game against St Kilda in Morwell in February and missed the other due to personal reasons.
But the two-month shutdown has provided the electric playmaker with a chance to build his fitness back up in preparation for the AFL season re-start on June 11.
Stephenson was eyeing a senior call-up for the Round 2 clash against the Tigers but will have to nudge out either Josh Daicos, Callum and Tyler Brown or John Noble for a spot.
While the Pies were brilliant in the first-up win, Buckley didn’t rule out making changes to the side considering it was two months since their season-opener.
“We are still in the process of looking at what our squad will be into Round 2 because it has been so long since we last played,” Buckley said.
“And despite the 22 of that evening against the Bulldogs performing really well, there has been a lot of water under bridge since then.
“We have got a fairly deep squad and have lots of players who performed quite well in our Monday contact session are and putting their hands up to suggest they should be in the side to take on the Tigers.
“We will glean more information in the next couple of contact sessions and we will settle on a squad that we think are best-placed physically and mentally take the field in Round 2.”
Gun midfielder Adam Treloar will miss the clash with a low-grade calf strain. Goal kicker Jamie Elliott played some midfield time in Treloar’s absence in Round 1 and will again look to push up the ground.
Captain Scott Pendlebury said Jordan De Goey and Elliott were both likely to see more midfield time.
“Those two guys deep forward or through the midfield just give us a different look, they are so quick and strong and then when they do go forward and get a mismatch defenders can struggle with them at the best of times,” Pendlebury said.
“So those two sharing midfield minutes, one forward one in the midfield, I think it gives us a really good look.”
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