#35,#1 Jaidyn Stephenson

[Jezza]

The long-term aim for Stephenson is to play him as an outside mid. He's not contested ball winner, but he has the capabilities of being a very good outside runner. He's already proven he can play well as a forward as he did in 2018 and 2019, so that's a benefit for us.

Stephenson suffered from glandular fever during the off season so it wouldn't surprise me if this has hindered him this year.

I'm not ready to write him off, but I hope he's learnt some important life lessons from last year and he can come back a bigger and better player next year. I don't expect him to do much for the rest of the year.

[Magpietothemax]

What Stepho did was "wrong" only if you accept that there is some ethical principle involved in defending the "integrity" of gambling, and the interests of such consortiums as Sportsbet, as well as the AFL who parasitically feeds off their profits. The social evil produced by gambling, and the AFL's promotion of it, is monstrous. Stepho was flayed because he (clearly very naively) cast doubt on the justification of the insane profits ripped out of society by the gambling industry.
stepho getting 10 weeks, while Gaff getting only 8, was a grotesque injustice. It displayed to all who cared to notice that the AFL performs cosmetic maneuvres to safeguard the physical health of the players, but will stop at nothing to safeguard its flow of cash. It was in fact enough to totally discredit the entire AFL institution. Naturally, due to the astronomical TV rights etc, the media was quick to provide a useful propaganda platform for demonising stepho.

[Piesnchess]

What Stepho did was "wrong" only if you accept that there is some ethical principle involved in defending the "integrity" of gambling, and the interests of such consortiums as Sportsbet, as well as the AFL who parasitically feeds off their profits. The social evil produced by gambling, and the AFL's promotion of it, is monstrous. Stepho was flayed because he (clearly very naively) cast doubt on the justification of the insane profits ripped out of society by the gambling industry.
stepho getting 10 weeks, while Gaff getting only 8, was a grotesque injustice. It displayed to all who cared to notice that the AFL performs cosmetic maneuvres to safeguard the physical health of the players, but will stop at nothing to safeguard its flow of cash. It was in fact enough to totally discredit the entire AFL institution. Naturally, due to the astronomical TV rights etc, the media was quick to provide a useful propaganda platform for demonising stepho.

Very well said, Bravo, could not have said it better myself.

[Rd10.1998_11.1#36]

What Stepho did was "wrong" only if you accept that there is some ethical principle involved in defending the "integrity" of gambling

Nothing to do with ethics. All AFL players know they're not allowed to gamble on games and HE DID IT WILFULLY and would have kept on doing it if he hadn't casually mentioned it to Howe. Even in his apology he said it "ALMOST" put him off gambling FFS

Stick to arguing that his punishment was excessive or that the AFL should drop betting sponsors, those points are arguable. That he was a stupid, selfish idiot is not

[WhyPhilWhy?]

Not an "ethical" principal - a commercial necessity.

[the fuzz]

Yes, the AFL rely on gambling. The amount of advertising is sickening.
It sends the wrong message to kids. People lose everything over this.

Stevo did the wrong thing betting on AFL. He could have bet on any other sport.

End of story. Move on.

[RudeBoy]

The gambling stuff was last year's news. I'm over it.

What I'm concerned about now is why such an incredible talent is not getting a game for us at a time when we desperately need speed, movement and goal sense up forward. The glandular fever may have hampered this season's preparation, but I suspect there are other off-field issues going on which we are not privy to. Whatever the situation, we need him back in the side asap.

[What'sinaname]

It's raised because as PnC stated earlier, has he ever been the same since?

[Raw Hammer]

If the club wants me to fork out my hard earned for a season in which I can’t go to the football, the least they can do is tell me (is) why TF Stephenson isn’t being selected. And I mean the REAL reason. Some of the garbage coming out of even our player’s menu mouths when asked about him is so damn contradictory. “He struggles early...blah blah blah...” No he didn’t, he was on fire in our dominant first quarters. So what is it? I know he barely touched the pill vs Adelaide (4 touches), but he still managed 2 goals.

[Mr Miyagi]

Apologies to the mods and Nicksters for my deleted posts. I was shooting off my mouth because it still frustrates me how the betting affair derailed our season. I’m still frustrated this year because in my opinion (and I’m probably wrong!) he hasn’t worked hard enough. I hope he proves me wrong and steps up the way Swanny and so many others did when they got the kick up the bum they needed.

[Pies2016]

I sometimes think Stephenson has become a victim of his brilliant debut season.
His season as a 19 year old small forward was unbelievable, possibly even record breaking in the modern era.
If he continued to improve ( and remained in that position ) he would be close to the leading the goal kicker this season and be ahead of other small forwards like C. Cameron, Butler and Papley.

Jeremy Cameron’s first two years were 30 and then 60 goal seasons. In theory he should now be kicking around 80 every season just for fun.
At some point if you’re in the system long enough, you will have your lows mixed in amongst your highs.
A quick look at Stephensons draft year also shows that Raynor, Dow and Davies - Uniake who were all picked before him, are hardly setting the world on fire.
I’m not saying there isn’t something going on in the background but I am saying that just because a player is going through a low, doesnt always mean there is something automatically going on either.
And obviously the glandular fever wouldn’t have helped his preparation.

[Pies4shaw]

Nothing's sufficiently up to keep him out of the team for the Carlton game.

[doriswilgus]

He’s back!Will kick 6 tomorrow,I feel it in my bones,

[Dave The Man]

He’s back!Will kick 6 tomorrow,I feel it in my bones,

Good Way to get back in the Good Books of the Fans that have Doubted Him

[think positive]

He’s back!Will kick 6 tomorrow,I feel it in my bones,

i like your bones xx