The retirement of North Melbourne forward Jaidyn Stephenson sees the once highly-touted attacker bow out of the AFL after a polarising career in the top flight.
Stephenson's seven-year career with Collingwood and the Kangaroos peaked in his maiden season in the AFL, with the now-25-year-old an integral piece in the Magpies' run to the grand final in 2018.
So good was Stephenson that year that he finished third in the club's goalkicking with 38 majors to his name, a haul that included two of the first three goals of the season decider to have the crafty forward an early favourite for the Norm Smith Medal that day.
It wasn't to be for Stephenson or the Magpies, however, with a famous Dom Sheed set shot from the boundary, the difference to see Collingwood's search for a 16th VFL/AFL premiership continue.
Stephenson did manage to come away from that season with some silverware, though, claiming the Rising Star Award with one of the best debut campaigns this century has seen from a first-year forward.
Polling 52 of a possible 55 votes to defeat Adelaide's Tom Doedee for the honour, with Stephenson's 34 goals from the home and away season being 11 more than the next best among those to earn a Rising Star nomination that year.
Broadening the criteria to compare Stephenson's debut season among other top forwards of this century, the pacey ex-Magpie stacks up substantially well.
Ninety-six players have kicked 200 or more goals since debuting in 2000, with only three from that group managing more than 30 majors in their maiden season.
2024 Coleman Medal winner Jesse Hogan kicked 44 goals in his debut season with Melbourne in 2015, his second year in the top flight and third overall in the Demons' system.
Mercurial Fremantle forward Paul Medhurst managed 36 goals in his first year in purple, while Port Adelaide tall Justin Westhoff booted 34 goals in his debut year with the Power as the South Australian club reached the grand final.
Here's how Stephenson's built different debut year in 2018 compared to some of the best first seasons we've seen this century...
| Player (Team) | Debut Year | Goals That Year | Games That Year |
| Jesse Hogan (MELB) | 2015 | 44 | 20 |
| Jaidyn Stephenson | 2018 | 38 | 26 |
| Paul Medhurst (FREO) | 2002 | 36 | 20 |
| Justin Westhoff (PORT) | 2007 | 34 | 16 |
| Luke Breust (HAW) | 2011 | 30 | 17 |
| Adam Schneider (SYD) | 2003 | 30 | 24 |
| Jeremy Cameron (GWS) | 2012 | 29 | 16 |
| Tom Papley (SYD) | 2016 | 29 | 20 |
| Brody Mihocek (COLL) | 2018 | 29 | 16 |
| Brad Green (MELB) | 2000 | 28 | 20 |
| Stephen Milne (STK) | 2001 | 27 | 17 |
| Jack Darling (WCE) | 2011 | 24 | 23 |
| Shaun Burgoyne (PORT) | 2002 | 24 | 17 |
| Cyril Rioli (HAW) | 2008 | 24 | 25 |
| Taylor Walker (ADEL) | 2009 | 23 | 14 |
Best debut season goal totals from players with 200+ career goals since debuting in 2000 Note: Stephenson added for context (130 career goals)
2024 saw several promising first-year forwards show their worth, with Hawthorn pair Calsher Dear and Nick Watson kicking 25 goals each as the Hawks managed a surprise semi-final finish, with the young duo holding key roles in their rise up the competition.
Pick 31 selection Logan Morris came out on top, though, kicking 24 goals on his way to a premiership in his debut season with Brisbane. Morris played 19 games this year and would kick two goals in the flag-clinching win over Sydney, adding to his four previous goals in finals wins over Carlton and Geelong.
While Stephenson couldn't quite reach the heights Morris managed in his debut season, the departing Kangaroo can hold his head high with one of the best maiden seasons from a forward we've seen.
A frustrating downfall did follow his best year in the black and white, with Stephenson's 2019 season plagued by a 10-game ban for betting on Collingwood matches he featured in. He would return in time for the club's finals series, kicking in both September appearances as the Magpies exited in the penultimate game of the year.
While going at a goal per game the year after, Stephenson struggled to rekindle the form that saw him burst onto the scene two seasons prior, with Collingwood pushing to trade the former Pick 6 selection that off-season.
He would land with the Kangaroos in what looked to be a bargain acquisition for the Arden Street club, but again, Stephenson failed to recapture his best at the top level - with a match-winning 38-disposal outing against West Coast proving to be an anomaly.
2023 proved to be fruitful for Stephenson with a return of 26 goals from 21 goals, but by the start of this year, he again found himself out of form and out of favour at selection.
The curious case of Jaidyn Stephenson will be one memorable to Magpies fans for some time to come, with many hoping he isn't lost to football forever after losing the passion to play.
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