Port Adelaide has made a call on Jaidyn Stephenson. Plus a North Melbourne young gun has suffered yet another injury setback, and contract extensions for two stars.
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PORT DECIDES AGAINST STEPHENSON LIFELINE
Port Adelaide has reportedly decided against throwing a career lifeline to former Pick 6 Jaidyn Stephenson.
That’s according to AFL journalist Tom Morris, who revealed the Power won’t offer Stephenson a list spot for 2026.
Stephenson, 27, had been training with Port in hopes of winning one of its three list vacancies via the pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP), which runs until March 2.
The most recent over those list vacancies at Alberton was opened up by the club moving Ivan Soldo (ACL) to its inactive list.
Former Cat Ted Clohesy, East Fremantle forward Mitchell Zadow and Norwood defender Balyn O’Brien have also been training with the club.
Stephenson retired from the AFL at the end of 2024 after 122 games for Collingwood and North Melbourne, saying he’d lost his passion for the game.
He burst onto the scene in 2018 in a career-best season, booting 38 goals and winning the Rising Star award during the Magpies’ grand final run.
WARDLAW LEAVES PRACTICE GAME WITH HAMSTRING CONCCERN
North Melbourne young gun George Wardlaw’s luckless injury run has continued with a hamstring setback in a VFL practice game.
AFL Media first reported the 21-year old left Friday night’s game early due to an issue on the same hamstring he injured a fortnight ago.
The Kangaroos will look into the setback over the coming days to determine the severity, but the club is optimistic it isn’t serious.
“His summer was so strong — body and technical, tactical, physical, was unreal. The setback was really minor, to the point where the history of his body saw the reins put on him,” North Melbourne assistant Michael Barlow said earlier on Friday night.
“He’ll play managed minutes on a varying level or roles to make sure he’s not just that crash and bash mid, which he will be at AFL level when we get him back.”
It remains a concern for the injury-prone midfielder just three weeks out from North’s Round 1 clash with Port Adelaide in a game Colby McKercher (finger) will be racing the clock to play in.
Meanwhile, Charlie Comben could be in hot water for a dangerous tackle that concussed Brody Mihocek in Friday’s match simulation.
NEW DEALS FOR DURHAM, DUNKLEY
Rising Bomber Sam Durham and new Brisbane co-captain Josh Dunkley have been rewarded with contract extensions at their respective clubs.
Durham, who was originally signed until 2028, has signed on for another four years to tie him to Essendon until at least 2032.
The deal is the most lucrative in club history, according to AFL Media’s Callum Twomey, and a reward after Durham’s third-placed finish in the 2025 best and fairest.
The extension takes the 24-year old past free agency and will run through when he’s 31.
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“I know exactly where I want to be, and that is at the Essendon Football Club,” Durham told the club’s website.
“My focus is entirely on bringing success to this team and our supporters. I didn’t want to wait for free agency, I wanted to lock in my future right now.
“I have great faith in this list and in Brad (Scott) and the coaches to take us where we need to go. There’s a real sense of confidence in the program; we’re working hard every day to get better, and I’m just excited to be a part of it.”
Meanwhile, Dunkley has been given an additional two years to the six-year deal he signed upon crossing to the Lions at the end of 2022, reports AFL Media.
The 2025 Merrett-Murray Meda, originally contracted until 2038, is now tied to the Lions until 2030 along with Will and Levi Ashcroft.
Dunkley was this week was announced as one of three Brisbane skippers in 2026 alongside Harris Andrews and Hugh McCluggage ahead of their quest for a three-peat.
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