| Jaidyn Stephenson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Stephenson in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Born | (1999-01-15)15 January 1999 (age 26) | ||
| Original teams |
| ||
| Draft | No. 6,2017 national draft | ||
| Debut | Round 1, 2018,Collingwood vs.Hawthorn, atMCG | ||
| Height | 189 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 78 kg (172 lb) | ||
| Position | Forward /midfielder | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2018–2020 | Collingwood | 54(76) | |
| 2021–2024 | North Melbourne | 68(56) | |
| Total | 122 (130) | ||
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2024. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Jaidyn Stephenson (born 15 January 1999) is a professionalAustralian rules footballer who last played for theNorth Melbourne Football Club in theAustralian Football League (AFL), having been initially drafted to theCollingwood Football Club.
He was drafted by Collingwood with their first selection and sixth overall in the2017 national draft.[1] He made his debut in the 34-point loss toHawthorn at theMelbourne Cricket Ground in round 1 of the 2018 season.[2] His performance in the 48-point win againstAdelaide in round four of the 2018 season—in which he recorded thirteen disposals, five goals, four marks and three tackles—earned him the round nomination for theAFL Rising Star.[3] Stephenson went on to win the 2018AFL Rising Star after a successful first season in which he kicked 38 goals, making him the first Collingwood player to win the award.[4] Stephenson played in the2018 AFL Grand Final kicking two goals in the first quarter, howeverCollingwood Football Club would ultimately lose by five points to theWest Coast Eagles.
At the end of the2020 AFL season, he was put up for trade byCollingwood to alleviate their salary cap, and was traded toNorth Melbourne on the final day of trade period.[5]
Stephenson who was moved to the midfield in his first season withNorth Melbourne in the2021 AFL season was named to the22under22 for the second and final time.[6]
After the2024 AFL season, Stephenson retired at just 25 years of age, stating that he'd lost the passion to play.
In 2019, Stephenson was suspended for the final 10 games of the home and away season, following revelations that he placed bets on Collingwood games. There was also a $20,000 fine imposed.[7]
In July 2021, Stephenson had a career high 38 disposals in a Round 17 win against the West Coast Eagles. Days later, he faced strong criticism for sharing his views thatCOVID-19 had been overblown by the media, and questioning vaccinations.[8]
In August 2021, Stephenson again came under fire by the media after being hospitalised from an accident on a mountain bike while drunk, which resulted in him fracturing his hip.[9]
As of May 2021, Stephenson was studying for a Bachelor of Commerce atDeakin University.[10]
Stephenson attendedSt Joseph's College inFerntree Gully.[11]
Stephenson grew up in theMelbourne suburb ofFerntree Gully and played junior football forFerntree Gully Eagles in theEastern Football League.[12]
G | Goals | K | Kicks | D | Disposals | T | Tackles |
B | Behinds | H | Handballs | M | Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 2018 | Collingwood | 35 | 26 | 38 | 24 | 205 | 115 | 320 | 101 | 75 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 7.9 | 4.4 | 12.3 | 3.9 | 2.9 | 2 |
| 2019 | Collingwood | 1 | 14 | 24 | 13 | 158 | 61 | 219 | 93 | 29 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 11.3 | 4.4 | 15.6 | 6.6 | 2.1 | 1 |
| 2020 | Collingwood | 1 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 85 | 47 | 132 | 47 | 25 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 6.1 | 3.4 | 9.4 | 3.4 | 1.8 | 0 |
| 2021 | North Melbourne | 2 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 249 | 119 | 368 | 109 | 48 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 13.1 | 6.2 | 19.4 | 5.7 | 2.6 | 3 |
| 2022 | North Melbourne | 2 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 192 | 97 | 289 | 67 | 42 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 12.0 | 6.1 | 18.1 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 0 |
| 2023 | North Melbourne | 2 | 21 | 26 | 10 | 146 | 80 | 226 | 75 | 41 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 7.0 | 3.8 | 10.8 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 0 |
| 2024 | North Melbourne | 2 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 106 | 46 | 152 | 51 | 20 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 8.8 | 3.8 | 12.7 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 0 |
| Career | 122 | 130 | 81 | 1141 | 565 | 1706 | 543 | 280 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 9.4 | 4.6 | 14.0 | 4.5 | 2.3 | 6 | ||
