Young forward Jaidyn Stephenson has become the first Collingwood player to win the NAB AFL Rising Star award, for 2018.
The first-year gun was this year's favourite to win the award, kicking 34 goals and playing every game this season. In fact, Stephenson was only one of four Collingwood players to kick 30 or more goals this season, which was crucial in driving his side's return to the finals. The 19-year-old polled 52 votes to win the award, with Adelaide's Tom Doedee coming second with 42 votes and Brisbane's Alex Witherden coming third with 32 votes. The Ron Evans Medal recipient was proud to win the award, but remained humble in his speech. "I certainly didn't think I was a sure thing. I haven't been too nervous in the days leading up but today it hit me a little bit," Stephenson said. "I'd done the best I could and I couldn't change the outcome anymore, so I just had to relax a little bit." There was a period during last year's draft where Stephenson thought he may not get drafted, with many clubs wary of his heart condition which could impact on his AFL career. Collingwood were cleared to pick Stephenson only five hours before the draft. "There was a time where I thought I might not get drafted, and I was a little bit nervous," Stephenson said. "But for Derek Hine (national recruiting manager) and his recruiting team and Eddie McGuire (president) to show faith in me, and all those involved, to take the risk on me and the chance on me I do owe them a lot." Stephenson was drafted at pick No. 6 in last year's national draft. In just his first year of football, he already has one thing in common with coach Nathan Buckley, who was the inaugural winner of the award in 1993 while playing for the Brisbane Lions.
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