MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 06: Jaidyn Stephenson of the Kangaroos warms up during the AFL Community Series match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Arden Street Ground on March 06, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Promising Kangaroos youngster Jaidyn Stephenson has reportedly sustained a broken hip after falling from a mountain bike at his home on Friday night.
The news first came to light after AFL Media's Callum Twomey tweeted the details on Saturday afternoon.
According to Twomey, Stephenson was rushed to hospital and had been drinking before attempting to perform a stunt on the two-wheeler.
North Melbourne general manager Brady Rawlings has since confirmed Twomey's account of events.
“Jaidyn’s pretty flat at the moment and he’s a bit sick and sorry,” Rawlings said in an official club statement.
“After having had drinks at home with his housemates, he attempted to perform a trick on his mountain bike off the back deck. He lost balance and fell onto a concrete paver.
“Initially, after the accident, Jaidyn was able to walk but the pain progressed to a point that an ambulance was called.
“He was kept in overnight and he looks like he might be laid up for a while. At this stage he’ll have a stay in hospital while his surgeon decides whether he’ll need surgery.
“It puts a dampener on what was a promising season for Jaidyn. We’re disappointed with his poor judgment and his reckless action has resulted in quite a painful injury for him.”
Stephenson is not unfamiliar with controversy, having been suspended for 10-games and fined $20,000 due to gambling on matches he was involved in during 2019.
The 22-year-old also drew the ire of many for downplaying the severity of the Coronavirus earlier this season.
Despite enjoying a positive debut campaign for the Arden Street club in which he earned a place in the 22under22 team, the forward is unlikely to be fit for the commencement of North Melbourne's pre-season training program.
Collingwood traded the 2018 Rising Star to the Roos at the cessation of 2020 in an effort to ease the club's mounting salary cap strains.
The Eastern Ranges product averaged a mean of 19.4 disposals under David Noble's stewardship and completed the year with 17 goals.