Former Collingwood and North Melbourne forward Jaidyn Stephenson has reportedly begun sounding out AFL clubs directly in an attempt to return to the AFL.

Stephenson retired from football last year after struggling at the Kangaroos, albeit with one more year to run on his contract, flagging his love lost for the game on the podcast What Could've Been a month ago.

The 26-year-old returned to his junior club, Ferntree Gully Eagles, in the Eastern Football League (EFL), playing 18 games and kicking 38 goals, which included bags of seven and six throughout the season.

But according to Channel 7's Mitch Cleary, Stephenson is giving up hope on a miraculous recall to the top-flight.

"Multiple clubs contacted by 7NEWS insisted Stephenson was initiating contact himself, separate to his management," the report said.

"While there isn't overwhelming initial interest in Stephenson winning an AFL reprieve, clubs said it was something they would consider post-draft for a pre-season rookie training slot."

It is understood, according to The Age's Marc McGowan, that Port Adelaide and Carlton have been spoken to by Stephenson.

The Eastern Ranges product burst onto the AFL scene with the Pies after being taken with Pick 6 in the 2017 National Draft.
He won the Rising Star in 2018, the year Collingwood played West Coast in the grand final, kicking 38 goals, including two in the decider.

Stephenson returned the following season as one of the up-and-coming forwards in the competition, but was halted after the mid-year betting scandal, sidelining him from Round 12 until the Qualifying final.

His 2020 season didn't live up to the hype of his previous years, which is when the Pies began their firesale, farewelling Stephenson, as well as Adam Treloar, Tom Phillips and Atu Bosenavulagi.

The right-footer added 78 games for North Melbourne to his tally, taking it to 122 before he called time on his career.

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