October 29, 2024, 1:35 a.m. ET
Former Rising Stars winner Jaydyn Stephenson has revealed she retired from the AFL aged just 25 after losing her passion for the game.
North Melbourne announced on Tuesday that former No. 6 draft pick Stephenson will leave the league with one year left on his contract.
“At the end of this season, it became clear that I wasn’t as passionate about soccer as I used to be,” Stevenson said.
“I loved the camaraderie the game brought, but after a lot of reflection during the post-season break, I knew I was ready to move away from AFL football and see what life would be like.”
Stephenson broke onto the scene for Collingwood in 2018, scoring 38 goals in his debut season and playing an integral role in the Magpies’ run to the Grand Final.
He became the first Collingwood player to win the Ron Evans Medal as an AFL rising star.
However, things went awry in 2019, with his season ending early after he was suspended for 10 games for betting on a Collingwood game he was involved in.
Stephenson was traded to North Melbourne at the end of the 2020 season as Collingwood looked to free up salary cap space. He scored 76 goals in 54 appearances for the Magpies.
He joined the Kangaroos on a five-year contract, but his performances at his second club were spotty as North were locked at the bottom of the table.
In 2021, Stevenson broke his hip when he fell off his mountain bike in the backyard while trying to perform a trick after drinking at home with his housemates.
In the end, he played 68 games for North and scored 54 goals. That includes eight points in 12 major league games this year.
“We appreciate Jadyn making this decision in his best interest and that he is eager to explore other things in life,” North football coach Todd Viney said in a statement. Ta.
