The AFLPA has released the following statement on Jaidyn Stephenson:
“Jaidyn has acknowledged that his decision to bet on AFL matches was a gross error of judgement, for which he has been sanctioned accordingly.
“This is a harsh yet valuable lesson for the 20-year-old, and serves as an important reminder to other AFL players, and the broader industry, about the rules and regulations around betting on AFL matches.
“Jaidyn has our full support through his suspension and beyond.”
AFL Daily: Collingwood legends Tony Shaw and Mick McGuane slam the severity of Jaidyn Stephenson’s punishment
The "harsh" punishment handed out to Collingwood youngster Jaidyn Stephenson for placing AFL bets doesn't fit the crime, say Magpies premiership teammates Tony Shaw and Mick McGuane. RECAP ALL THE DAY'S NEWS
Collingwood premiership teammates Tony Shaw and Mick McGuane believe Jaidyn Stephenson’s 10-week ban is too harsh.
“I understand where they they are coming from … but to me it’s just a young bloke who was dumb and made a stupid mistake,” Shaw said.
“If there was any collusion, I’d agree, he should be banned for two years or for life.
“But you can belt someone from behind in a king hit action and if the bloke gets up and doesn’t have concussion, you’ll probably get four weeks.
“Ten weeks is a long time.
“I reckon it’s harsh, but I know a lot of people won’t. It’s just another stupid mistake and not all footballers are brain surgeons, as we know.
“And I’m not just saying it as Collingwood person, if it was any other player at any other club I’d still say it’s harsh.”
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Asked what penalty would have been suitable, Shaw said: “Four weeks, you learn a lesson, you get on with life and go for it.
“The Essendon blokes only got two years and it was said that they had taken illegal drugs, so geez, for a $36 multi he’s paid a heavy price.”
McGuane, Shaw’s 1990 premiership teammate, said: “The integrity of the competition cannot be compromised.
“And clearly with all of the warnings, he should have known better, but a 22-week suspension - of which 12 are suspended - seems too harsh.
“I think a fairer figure would have been 16 weeks - eight and eight.”
Shaw said the impact on Nathan Buckley’s team would be significant.
“It’s big. This bloke is one of the top three goal kickers in the club and it could cost you games and qualifying higher,” he said.
“They’ll find a way of getting around it but he’s a good player.
“I wouldn’t go as far as saying it could cost you a premiership, but there’s no doubt it could cost you games because of his ability to take another defender and to change games.
“Nathan has had some bad luck over his coaching career with injury and few other things, but to lose a bloke like this for 10 weeks is unbelievable.“He’ll be out of his thinking now and somebody else will come into it. Bucks does that better than anybody.”
Updates
‘This is a harsh yet valuable lesson’: AFLPA
Pies fans will stand by Stephenson
TIM MICHELL
Collingwood fans have vowed to stand behind Jaidyn Stephenson after he was handed a 22-game ban for betting on three Magpies matches.
Stephenson self-reported to officials on May 19 and was today slapped with the hefty penalty, of which 12 weeks has been suspended.
Stephenson trained with his teammates this morning in front of a large media contingent and a small gathering of fans who said they expected the 20-year-old would learn from his mistake.
“It is a bit (of a blow),” Magpies fan Cooper Remine said.
“He’s done the wrong thing. (The suspension) won’t be too good for us.”
Stephenson will be eligible to return for the first final but will be unable to play VFL during his ban.
He will be allowed to continue training.
He was found to have placed bets in games involving Western Bulldogs, Essendon and St Kilda.
Stephenson twice gave money to friends to place bets for him and once used a friend’s betting account.
His bets included Collingwood to win, Stephenson to kick goals and other Magpies players to have specific possession tallies.
Stephenson stopped for a photo after Wednesday’s training session with supporter Maree Meadows, who said she the sanction would not tarnish her view of the young gun.
“I really will support him,” she said.
“He’s done something very silly…but there’s a lot of people who have made a lot of mistakes.
“Everyone I know is supporting him. He’s a really nice kid.”
She said she did not expect Stephenson’s absence would have a major impact on Collingwood’s fortunes, despite him booting 21 goals in 12 games this year.
Jamie Elliott looms as the likely replacement for Stephenson when he recovers from a hamstring injury.
“It’s a fairly big loss, because he’s one of those forwards that is young and he puts on good pressure,” fan Ranveer Gurjer said.
“But at the same time I think our squad has heaps of depth. We are already without Beams and Taylor Adams and we are still playing really well.
“I think (Ben) Reidy will come in and cover for him and he will do a great job.”
He said was a “stupid mistake” but backed Stephenson to learn from the lengthy suspension.
Watch: Stephenson speaks to the media
STEPHENSON A 'SCAPEGOAT'
A Monash University gambling expert has slammed the AFL as hypocritical after it banned star Pie Jaidyn Stephenson for gambling.
Dr Charles Livingstone, the universities head of gambling and social determinants, said Stephenson, suspended for 22 weeks (12 suspended) for betting on three Collingwood games, was being made a scapegoat by the AFL
“The code is clear, of course, and his actions are quite inexplicable, but nonetheless, the AFL demonstrates a degree of hypocrisy in this area," Dr Livingstone said.
“Multiple clubs and the AFL itself make money out of sponsorship by gambling companies, or by operating gambling venues.
"If they really care about the integrity of the sport, the wellbeing of the fans (and the players), the AFL can show leadership by getting out of its sponsorship deal with BetEasy, and doing what it can to reduce gambling advertising around grounds and on broadcasts.”
Jaidyn Stephenson
"The bets I placed were through a mate’s account. The bets totalled $36 and I didn’t win any money on any of them.
"It was a stupid thing to do and I now realise the seriousness of what I’ve done.
"Sitting on the couch with my mate and he was doing the same thing. I didn’t think about the bigger picture. I hope others can learn from my mistakes.
"I think the first two times I was a little bit oblivious to it. I thought it might be harmless. After the third time it was starting to weigh on me.
"It has almost scared me off gambling altogether.
"Ten weeks is a long time. I can come back to play the first week of finals. I hope the team is doing well. It will be tough to get back, it could end up being a 14 week penalty.
"I didn't think about it while I was out there… after I'd finished and we'd had our meeting with Bucks, I'd have a look at my phone and go, whoever it was (he bet on) didn't hit what it was.
“It was an incredibly naive thing to do. I can’t change the past, but what’s most important is what I do next.
“Mum and Dad were always big on telling the truth. After the third bet, this was accumulating to something that I thought could be a lot bigger, and I had a guilty conscience. The first two times, I was oblivious to it.”
Geoff Walsh
"Obviously the emotion is disappointment for Jaidyn. There is frustration. The rules are clear. Matters like gambling are clear. There is no excuse for not knowing.
"He hasn’t directly addressed the playing group on this matter. There have been meetings where this matter has been discussed openly.
"He will find it tough (to come back) no doubt. Ten weeks on the sidelines will be a really strong challenge for him to regain a spot in the side."
Mark Anderson
“The penalty that has been handed down to Jaidyn is a tough penalty…but a fair one. He is a young man who has owned up to his mistakes.
“Good people do make mistakes but the sign of a good person is how they respond.
"We all know the rules and Jaidyn knows the rules. He knew that when he was betting on a Collingwood match he was doing the wrong thing."
Jaidyn Stephenson has described his betting as “acts of stupidity” that he felt guilty about.
The Collingwood gun was rubbed out for the rest of the regular season and slapped with a $20,000 fine for having bets across three Magpies matches he played in.
“It was an incredibly naïve thing to do,” Stephenson said.
“I’m embarrassed that I’ve let myself, my family, my teammates and our loyal fans down and I’m devastated that I won’t be able to pull on a Collingwood jumper for the next 10 weeks.
“I can’t change the past, but what’s most important is what I do next.”
Pies speak on Stephenson bets
Jaidyn Stephenson
"The bets I placed were through a mate’s account. The bets totalled $36 and I didn’t win any money on any of them.
"It was a stupid thing to do and I now realise the seriousness of what I’ve done.
"Sitting on the couch with my mate and he was doing the same thing. I didn’t think about the bigger picture. I hope others can learn from my mistakes.
"I think the first two times I was a little bit oblivious to it. I thought it might be harmless. After the third time it was starting to weigh on me.
"It has almost scared me off gambling altogether.
"Ten weeks is a long time. I can come back to play the first week of finals. I hope the team is doing well. It will be tough to get back, it could end up being a 14 week penalty.
"I didn't think about it while I was out there… after I'd finished and we'd had our meeting with Bucks, I'd have a look at my phone and go, whoever it was (he bet on) didn't hit what it was.
“It was an incredibly naive thing to do. I can’t change the past, but what’s most important is what I do next.
“Mum and Dad were always big on telling the truth. After the third bet, this was accumulating to something that I thought could be a lot bigger, and I had a guilty conscience. The first two times, I was oblivious to it.”
Geoff Walsh
"Obviously the emotion is disappointment for Jaidyn. There is frustration. The rules are clear. Matters like gambling are clear. There is no excuse for not knowing.
"He hasn’t directly addressed the playing group on this matter. There have been meetings where this matter has been discussed openly.
"He will find it tough (to come back) no doubt. Ten weeks on the sidelines will be a really strong challenge for him to regain a spot in the side."
Mark Anderson
“The penalty that has been handed down to Jaidyn is a tough penalty…but a fair one. He is a young man who has owned up to his mistakes.
“Good people do make mistakes but the sign of a good person is how they respond.
"We all know the rules and Jaidyn knows the rules. He knew that when he was betting on a Collingwood match he was doing the wrong thing."
STEPHENSON: 'I'M EMBARRASSED'
Jaidyn Stephenson has described his betting as “acts of stupidity” that he felt guilty about.
The Collingwood gun was rubbed out for the rest of the regular season and slapped with a $20,000 fine for having bets across three Magpies matches he played in.
“It was an incredibly naïve thing to do,” Stephenson said.
“I’m embarrassed that I’ve let myself, my family, my teammates and our loyal fans down and I’m devastated that I won’t be able to pull on a Collingwood jumper for the next 10 weeks.
“I can’t change the past, but what’s most important is what I do next.”
CHARLIE CAMERON'S LITTLE BRO GETS BIG-TIME DEBUT
There's a new Cameron in town.
Mercurial Brisbane Lion Charlie Cameron's little brother Jarrod will make his AFL debut on the weekend in West Coast's clash with Essendon.
The 19-year-old was selected with pick No.39 in last year’s AFL Draft, from Swan Districts.
He said his parents and brother Charlie were over the moon when he told them about his debut.
“Mum wasn’t home, I thought she’d be home, so I had to ring and tell her,” Jarrod Cameron said.
“I told her I was playing my first game this week and she was pretty stoked.
"Dad’s up north, so I had to ring him. He’s at work, so he’s going to fly down on Wednesday morning (to attend the game).
“My brother Charlie, he just said don’t take it for granted, embrace the week leading up and just go out and play.”
Cameron said he learned of his debut during main training at Optus Stadium on Monday night.
“Josh Kennedy and Jeremy McGovern approached me saying, ‘Go ask Adam Simpson if I kick this I can play’,” Cameron said.
“I didn’t want to approach (Simpson), but he approached me, told me to go back and kick it.
"I had to do a couple of spins and I shanked the first one, but I went back and kicked my second one and all the boys got around me.
“Then (Simpson) came and told me that I would be playing this Thursday night.”
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