Track watch: Stephenson continues to impress at Port Adelaide, the Eagle in line for breakout season as draftees shine
Jaidyn Stephenson was running around at local footy last season, but according to potential new teammate Jack Lukosius, you can’t tell. Plus, the breakout star and new draftees impressing at West Coast.
Port Adelaide train-on hopeful Jaidyn Stephenson is “looking like an AFL footballer long term” as the ex-Collingwood rising star continues to fight for a third chance at the top level.
The goalkicking speedster has already been noted for putting everything in to his time pushing for a supplemental selection period (SSP) spot with the Power, having been spotted putting in extra hours on the track and in the gym.
Stephenson, who kicked 76 goals in 54 games with Collingwood before 54 more in 68 matches with North Melbourne, is competing with untried trio Balynn O’Brien, Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier and Mitchell Zadow for two spots.
Potential forwardline teammate Jack Lukosius said Stephenson, 26, had shown no signs of coming all the way back from local club Ferntree Gully to the bigtime in only a matter of months.
“He has definitely still got all the talent that made him a great player early in his career,” Lukosius said.
“He has come in with everything you would want from a train-on, he has been training hard doing all his extras and ticking every box. He is putting his best foot forward for sure and I think the group has accepted him and he is fitting in really well.
“It hasn’t stood out that he played local footy last (season) at all. He came in in a good spot, he must have done the work in the back-end of the year and the off-season to give himself every chance.
“He is looking like an AFL footballer long-term.”
Lukosius himself will be almost a new recruit for the Power, having played just seven games in his first season at the club due to back and calf issues.
He has worked with a biomechanic to get on top of his body problems and said he was glad to be back in his home state as he dealt with the injuries, having been traded from Gold Coast before the 2025 season.
“Those tough times when I was getting injections or surgery and mum would pick me up from the airport and having gamily around when the team was playing interstate and I could see some mates, that was an important period,” he said.
“I am looking forward to having them (family and friends) at the Adelaide Oval and not the hospital, that would be good.”
As someone who moved back to his home state, Lukosius was asked how the Power can avoid superstar Zak Butters being lured to Victoria at the end of next season and declared winning will keep him at Port.
“I think the pull is going to be home and our job is to make this a great place to play footy, for him to play well and us to be challenging,” Lukosius said.
“I think if everyone is holding up their end, I think we are going to make it a very hard place for him to leave.”
MID-SEASON RECRUIT PRIMED FOR BREAKOUT, NEW EAGLES SHINE
— Eliza Reilly
It was time for some 18v18 match simulation at West Coast training on Monday morning with the bulk of the Eagles’ squad in action.
Who shone, who sat out and who is eyeing a round one debut?
Here’s what we saw.
KEEPING TABS ON TOM
Mid-season No. 1 draft pick Tom McCarthy made a significant impact in his first few months as an Eagle.
And now in the midst of his first full AFL pre-season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the 25-year-old emerge as one of West Coast’s most important players in 2026.
After starting his career at half-back, the Eagles flirted with McCarthy in the midfield towards the back end of the season.
And that experiment looks set to continue next year, with McCarthy’s fitness and physicality standing out at training on Monday morning.
In one drill, the Richmond VFL product arched his back and streamed through the middle of Mineral Resources Park, dodging several teammates on his way inside 50.
Then, a few minutes later, he drew praise from Elliot Yeo for his repeat efforts around the ball, forcing a stoppage when the other team was looking to clear.
After missing the entirety of 2025 with a serious knee/ankle issue, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Yeo and McCarthy rotating between half-back and the midfield.
The pair are two of West Coast’s most powerful movers and the Eagles sorely missed Yeo’s experience and support of Harley Reid in the midfield. However, the 32-year-old has been training in the backline.
It’s a significant boost for the Eagles to have Yeo in full training this early in pre-season and late in the session. He proved he hadn’t lost any of his speed with a searching arc-to-arc sprint in between drills.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
It’s obvious to see why the Eagles rate Cooper Duff-Tytler so highly.
The No. 4 draft pick has made an immediate impact since being drafted to West Coast last month as he eyes an early debut.
Stationed in attack as a key forward, Duff-Tytler easily outpointed the more experienced Sandy Brock in a neat one-on-one contest.
And in 18v18 match simulation, Duff-Tytler presented strongly and was always an option thanks to his athleticism. In general drills, his kicking stood out.
There’s plenty of competition for spots in attack with Jobe Shanahan, Jack Williams and Archer Reid also all in the mix, while Jake Waterman is back in full training after a season-ending shoulder injury.
No. 1 pick Willem Duursma launched for a spectacular mark during match simulation, but couldn’t quite hold onto it. And after spilling an easy mark on the wing, he quickly recovered and launched an off-balance bullet pass to the top of the square.
While Josh Lindsay had a few nice moments during match simulation.
INJURY WATCH
Club champion Liam Baker has been a noticeable absentee for the past couple of sessions due to hamstring awareness.
Bailey Williams (groin) and Tom Gross (quad) were putting in the hard yards up in the grandstand, climbing the stairs over and over before switching to exercise bikes on the sidelines.
Harry Barnett is on a modified program with a knee issue, while Waterman spent a few minutes in the hands of trainers with what looked to be a minor ankle tweak.
Bo Allan wrapped up early to run laps while draftee Sam Allen continues to recover from an ACL injury, but was able to kick the footy with teammates in promising signs.
Originally published as Track watch: Stephenson continues to impress at Port Adelaide, the Eagle in line for breakout season as draftees shine
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