Port Adelaide considering Jaidyn Stephenson for train-on spot this pre-season

Just over a year since announcing his retirement, Jaidyn Stephenson is attempting to make a shock return to the elite level — and an AFL club is looking closely at the ex-Pie and Kangaroo.

Glenn McFarlane and Jon Ralph

less than 2 min read

November 1, 2025 - 3:19PM

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Former Collingwood and North Melbourne forward Jaidyn Stephenson is among a raft of summer train-on possibilities being considered by Port Adelaide.

The 2018 Rising Star winner retired from AFL football at the end of the 2024 season with a year remaining on his contract with the Kangaroos after losing his passion for the game.

But the 26-year-old has been searching for an AFL lifeline and is keen to add to the 122 games he played with the Magpies and the Kangaroos from 2018 to 2024.

Stephenson retired at the end of the 2024 season. Picture: Getty Images

Code Sports understands that the Power has been looking at Stephenson in recent weeks, but have yet to commit to letting him train on with the club during the pre-season.

The Power are trying to whittle back a list of train-on players to a handful in the coming weeks before starting new coach Josh Carr’s first pre-season in the role.

Stephenson told the Sacked podcast earlier this year he lost his passion for the game at the Kangaroos after a lack of success in his time at the club.

“I finished ‘23 and thought I have really had enough here,” he said.

'Really old school': Stephenson reflects on turbulent times at Roos

“And I don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel (at North Melbourne). You know, my contract’s running out. I’m not gonna be in a successful side here. And I might as well start looking after, you know, my own happiness, my life going forward, get a head start.”

But having played a season with his junior club Ferntree Gully in the Eastern Football League this year, where he was captain, he has regained his hunger for playing at the top level.

Jaidyn Stephenson playing for Ferntree Gully in Division 3 of the EFNL. Picture: Andrew Batsch

It is understood Stephenson approached several AFL clubs in the past few months, including Port Adelaide and Carlton, in his search for a new club.

He kicked 38 goals and won the Rising Star award in his first season with the Magpies in 2018, as well as playing in the grand final that year.

But he was banned for 12 games and fined $20,000 for placing small bets on AFL games in his second season before the Magpies traded him to North Melbourne at the end of 2020.