Selected by Collingwood with the sixth pick at the 2017 NAB AFL Draft, few players immediately set the AFL alight like Jaidyn Stephenson did in his first season.
Stephenson was nominated for the NAB Rising Star in Round 4 of his debut season and went onto win the award with 52 votes, 10 clear of second-placed Tom Doedee.
Playing all 26 games of his debut campaign, he was crucial to Collingwood’s run to the Grand Final, where he kicked two goals in the loss to West Coast.
He was traded to North Melbourne on the final day of the 2020 trade period, and has been a key player for the Roos ever since.
North Melbourne debut: Round 1, 2021
Career Brownlow votes: 6
2023: In his third season as a Kangaroo, Stephenson returned to the forward line and recorded his best return in front of goal since arriving at Arden Street, finishing with 26 majors.
His best day out came against the Lions in the AFL's inaugural Gather Round in South Australia, when he slotted four goals from his nine disposals.
A broken thumb meant his campaign ended with two rounds to go, but the year finished on a high for the No.2 who claimed the Peter Scanlon Community Award for his work with HeartKids.
