Ex-Collingwood, North Melbourne player Jaidyn Stephenson suddenly quits AFL at 25
The winner of the AFL’s 2018 Rising Star award has announced he’s walking away from the game at the age of just 25.
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North Melbourne star Jaidyn Stephenson has shocked the AFL, announcing he was quitting the game at the age of just 25 despite having a contract for next season.
Seven News reported the 2018 Rising Star Award, who has played 122 matches between Collingwood and North Melbourne, had lost passion for the game.
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Taken with the sixth pick of the 2017 draft, Stephenson had a breakout season for the Magpies in 2018, kicking 38 goals, including two in Collingwood’s grand final loss to West Coast.
But in 2019, he was banned for the final 10 games of the regular season and fined $20,000 after it was revealed he had placed bets on Collingwood games.
After the 2020 season and 54 games for the Pies, Stephenson was moved on by Collingwood due to their salary cap issues, signing a five-year deal with North Melbourne.
After the end of the 2021 season, Stephenson copped criticism after he fell off a mountain bike while drink and fractured his hip.
However, Stephenson’s career had been on a downward slope in the past two seasons, seeing a huge drop off in productivity which saw him dropped to the VFL.
He managed just 12 games for eight goals in 2024.
It also saw him slammed by former mentor Nathan Buckley earlier this year as an example of a player who is “inconsistent with his effort.”
“I don’t know what standard you’re setting when you pick players like that,” Buckley said at the time.
Stephenson, who was hyped as a player who could have been a 200+ gamer early in his career, finishes with 122 games and 130 goals.
The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph said the move gives the Kangaroos another list spot for either national or rookie draft picks as well as opening up some salary cap room.
It’s been a dire time for the club during Stephenson’s tenure at North Melbourne with the Kangaroos having won wooden spoons in 2021 and 2022, while finishing 17th in both 2023 and 2024.
The Kangaroos were active during the trade period, bringing in plenty of experience.
The Kangaroos landed both Luke Parker and Jacob Konstanty from the Swans for pick 44, Caleb Daniel from the Western Bulldogs for pick 25 and Jack Darling from West Coast for pick 67.
While North Melbourne will only have two picks in the 2024 draft, they come at No. 2 and No. 62, meaning the side will land one of the nation’s best prospects.
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Originally published as Ex-Collingwood, North Melbourne player Jaidyn Stephenson suddenly quits AFL at 25
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