West Coast set to snare potential draft slider Jaidyn Stephenson with pick No.13

WEST Coast is in the box seat to secure top-five prospect Jaidyn Stephenson as a draft steal after a range of clubs ruled out the talented teenager on medical grounds.

WEST Coast is in the box seat to secure top-five prospect Jaidyn Stephenson as a draft steal after a range of clubs ruled out the talented teenager on medical grounds.

The Herald Sun revealed this month that Stephenson had recently been diagnosed with a heart condition which recruiters were still investigating.

Since then a growing number of clubs have deemed the potential emotional and liability risks of drafting the Eastern Ranges line-breaker as too great.

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But it emerged on Thursday night Stephenson was in the frame for the Eagles’ first selection at No.13.

Richmond (No.17 and 20) has also been investigating Stephenson. Collingwood (No.6) was unsure on its position.

The Ferntree Gully teenager is a freakish talent rated by Champion Data as the No.3 player in the draft.

Jaidyn Stephenson in action during the NAB under-18 All-Stars match.

Jaidyn Stephenson celebrates a goal for Eastern Ranges in the TAC Cup.

On pure talent he was set to be taken inside the top 10, perhaps as early as North Melbourne at No.4.

Stephenson, 18, will attend Friday night’s draft at Sydney’s Olympic Park with his family after a difficult period as he has juggled Year 12 exams and cardiologist appointments.

But Stephenson’s manager said it would be a mistake to overlook him.

“We’ve left this to the medical experts, and the doctors that Jaidyn’s been working with on this have said there is no issue,” Robbie D’Orazio told the Herald Sun.

“The clubs that don’t pick him because of this will regret it, because he’s going to play for a long time.”

Stephenson was best-afield in the All-Stars curtain-raiser on Grand Final day and kicked five goals from 28 possessions on Etihad Stadium against South Australia this year.

The Herald Sun revealed Brisbane Lions had settled on drafting explosive medium forward Cameron Rayner with the No.1 pick.

Rayner said he had not been told by the Lions but would happily move north.

“Brisbane would be an awesome place to live and the club is going forward,” Rayner said.

“I’d love to a part of that and if that happens I’d be really excited.”

Rayner edged Andrew Brayshaw in a photo finish with the Lions ranking him the standout player in the pool and confident he would not join the string of early draft selections to go home after just two years.

Fremantle’s No.2 selection remained unclear. The Dockers have long been linked to Haileybury midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke but were also considering Stephenson’s teammate Adam Cerra.