Stephenson lauds Pie brigade at pointy end
AFL young gun Jaidyn Stephenson says Collingwood’s versatile forward line is partly behind the Magpies’ revival this season.
The 19-year-old Rising Star nominee, who has booted 18 goals across his first 12 games, credits the club’s ability to get star performances from each of their forwards as to why the Pies are sitting sixth mid-season with eight wins.
“When you’ve got six forwards who can all kick lots of goals, it’s certainly going to help the team,” the No.6 draft pick said yesterday.
The young star, coming off a four-goal haul in Collingwood’s 42-point Queen’s Birthday victory over Melbourne, is quick to sing the praises of his fellow forwards.
“I’m just lucky enough to get on the end of it,” Stephenson said. “(Jordan) De Goey, (Mason) Cox, (Josh) Thomas, (Will) HoskinElliott — they’ve all had big bags of five or six. It’s been great.”
The Magpies’ wealth of midsized forwards had been key to kicking big scores, Stephenson said, helping the club’s bid to end a four-year finals drought.
“(We’ve got) the versatility,” he said when asked why the group was clicking so well.
“When we’ve got Mason Cox . . . Brody Mihocek or Ben Reid bringing the ball to ground, then all the little fellas can sort of swoop and get involved.”
Despite Collingwood kicking scores of 100 points or above this season in seven games, the youngster believes there’s still room for goalsneak Jamie Elliott when he recovers from a hamstring setback.
“I don’t think I’ll spend too much time in the midfield,” he said when asked if Elliott’s return would result in a move to the midfield.
“But I’m happy to do whatever and to have Jamie back in the side.”
Stephenson said the mid-season bye offered him a chance to recharge his batteries, but he would have been OK to soldier on.
The teenager, widely considered a favourite for the AFL’s Rising Star gong, said he had exceeded his expectations but was hungry for more top-level experience.
“I just rocked up day one and wanted to play round one,” he said. “(I) just keep getting to play each week, so it’s been great.”