Collingwood stunned by length of Jaidyn Stephenson’s penalty but accept AFL needed to take a strong stance

The Magpies expected a minor punishment for Jaidyn Stephenson but footy boss Geoff Walsh says the club understands the AFL had to make a statement for the integrity of the competition.

Jaidyn Stephenson at training last Friday. Picture: AAP

Collingwood football boss Geoff Walsh says he was caught between “disbelief and a bit of anger” when Jaidyn Stephenson confessed his $36 of AFL bets.

And while Walsh believes the suspension was too harsh, he said teams would play at empty stadiums if fans could not trust the integrity of competitions.

Walsh revealed the Pies were desperate to inform the AFL’s integrity team as soon as possible after Stephenson’s issues came to hand lest the league think they were covering up his issues.

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He told Triple M on Sunday he was at first shocked when the leadership group made clear to Stephenson he had to confess his bets.

The club has portrayed the confession as self-reporting, even if its leaders including Jeremy Howe and Scott Pendlebury made clear to Stephenson he must disclose his bets.

He added it was a “big call” from Howe to provide some “sage advice” but that he wasn’t the only Magpie to get in Stephenson’s ear.

“It was a moment with a disbelief and a bit of anger too. What are you doing mate,” Walsh said of the moment.

“Your first moment is, ‘I can’t believe that’, but you soon realise he is a troubled soul and has remorse and it becomes, how do we start the process to put it behind him.

“If you don’t have integrity and can’t trust administration of the rules, if you can’t trust the people involved in the sport itself pretty soon you will be playing to empty stadiums.”

Jaidyn Stephenson will miss the rest of the home-and-away season. Picture: Michael Klein

The Pies at first believed Stephenson might get a minor suspension or fine but as the investigation progressed it became apparent the league wanted to send a major message.

“We thought it was a bit harsh. I thought it might have been a couple of games less than he has earnt but having said that I totally understand.

“The rumour and innuendo said it might be a bit more time on the sidelines which was disturbing but in the end you are in the hands of the AFL. they are the lawmakers of the game.

“Pleasingly they came back with something that we thought was harsh but manageable.”

Originally published as Collingwood stunned by length of Jaidyn Stephenson’s penalty but accept AFL needed to take a strong stance