#35,#1 Jaidyn Stephenson

[Johnno75]

Did you miss his effort on Rayner in the middle of the ground.

[piedys]

I'd hope these incidents are discretely pointed out to him by coaching staff in review, during the week.

If that's not happening, then they can f^ck off too.

[Raw Hammer]

He has always been a skinny kid. He has always skimmed packs. But that’s OK. He’s not there to be a hard player. In his first year, he wasn’t built for AFL, but managed to use his guile and smarts to lead, crumb, kick goals. And he was forgiven for pulling out of hard packs and contest cos he was a baby in AFL terms, having never played a senior game in his life.

But in his third year, and despite no real muscle or weight being added, he might still be the ‘skinny’ kid inside 50, but he has got to show more desire to chase/tackle/second-effort. It’s not a skill to want to chase. Or tackle. Do I want him head first into a pack like Greenwood? He’ll no. He’ll be killed. But he needs some angry pills to trigger an urgency to get that damn ball at all costs. Just once I want to see an ANGRY look on his face. I dunno, he seems like the weight of the world is in his shoulders. Like that betting scandal still haunts him. No one really gives a sh!t anymore. Seems like eons ago. Sometime needs to sit him down and reassure him, and drive a rocket up him to get freakin’ ANGRY. Cos we don’t need another top 10 (top 5) bust.

JDG (injured)
Scharenberg (no longer selected)
Freeman (retired)
Aish (traded)
Moore (gun)
Stephenson (struggling, in and out)

What should have been our backbone for a decade of success is starting to look like a wasted decade of mediocrity.

By now, all should be mainstays of our team, and top 10 Collingwood players. Hell, by 2010, Pendlebury was in his 4th season and had a Norm Smith medal around his neck, and in 2011, after 5 seasons, Dale Thomas was arguably the game’s best player. Ten years later, our top ten picks have been an unmitigated disaster if you look at who actually played last night.

Get your top 5-10 picks wrong, and you’re pretty much done for a decade.

[PyreneesPie]

But in his third year, and despite no real muscle or weight being added, he might still be the ‘skinny’ kid inside 50, but he has got to show more desire to chase/tackle/second-effort. It’s not a skill to want to chase. Or tackle. Do I want him head first into a pack like Greenwood? He’ll no. He’ll be killed. But he needs some angry pills to trigger an urgency to get that damn ball at all costs. Just once I want to see an ANGRY look on his face. I dunno, he seems like the weight of the world is in his shoulders. Like that betting scandal still haunts him. No one really gives a sh!t anymore. Seems like eons ago. Sometime needs to sit him down and reassure him, and drive a rocket up him to get freakin’ ANGRY.

You could be onto something here RH. What I'm interpreting as a lack of confidence and belief in himself (hence leading to a lack of effort, little desire and some lack of courage) could well be because the shame of betting scandal is still weighing him down. Yep, he was silly, but he has to forgive himself for his error and believe in his value to the team when we so need him to be firing at his best.

[CakeWalkin]

Last night was the first time I thought, I'd trade Stevo

Carey hit the nail on the head, " Just no intensity "

[Pies2016]

Did you miss his effort on Rayner in the middle of the ground.

My point is, his attack on the footy is no different than what it was in 2018. The only difference is that he was kicking goals back then.
I doubt if you will find one comment back in 2018 questioning his courage.
Plenty of players miss tackles in a game ( and I agree his effort wasn’t good enough ) but the ranting and vitriol is over the top.
We even have comments wanting him traded on the back of that one micro event.

I can only wish I was ever as good at sport as what all the critics on here are.

[Mr Miyagi]

It’s obvious, he has not been the same since the betting scandal. It’s a mental issue.

[matrix10]

Bloke has likely lived a touched life- golden child- won everything and all came easy as junior- smashed first year in AFL- the hits a HUGE hurdle.
Add the glandular and poor kid just struggling with realities of the big wide world.
Get his head right- seeing him on the ground seemingly arguing with the curator over the centre square- not a good look.

[Boot]

I think the fixture and more importantly the hit Stephenson took in last Sunday's match vs Carlton where he got a hit to the head and then corked in the thigh in the same contest may account for his poor output vs Brisbane.
I think Stephenson is an A grade talent that we need for the class and speed he brings to the team. I recall him playing full forward against the Gold Coast's Steven May and he out bodied the larger more experienced opponent in a marking contest to bring the ball behind them then ran away to goal. That sort of skill is worth holding onto. I'm hopeful that with some decent breaks between games for the remainder of this most unusual season Stephenson (along with Grundy and a few others in our team) will return to their best form and hopefully we will gain some class players back into the team such as DeGoey, Sidebottom, Trelaor and Howe to give the finals a real crack.

The forward line problems we are having this year should be fixed by looking to get an alternative to Mason Cox with my preference being Two Meter Peter Wright from Suns. I would still keep Cox and Cameron listed as both show promise. Cox struggles with wet weather and at times frustrates with lack of body positioning, but he is still a massive threat to any defense if he can time his leads and the midfiled can kick to his advantage. At least his kicking is accurate!!
Any forward line with Stephenson, Elliot, Mihocek, DeGoey has enough class and strength to be a threat. Unfortunately Hoskin-Elliot and Thomas have been inconsistent at best and non-existent for scoreboard hits for too long this season. I fear Thomas's time may be up after this season primarily due to his lack of pace to break away from packs. Will Kelly and Tay Ruscoe are young options as third talls to add to the forward line mix so I feel the short and longterm future is not as dark as some others have reacted after a disappointing loss to the Lions.
I don't agree with the calls for playing Darcy Moore in the forward line. He is setting himself as an All Australian Center Half Back with tremendous intercept marking ability and usually good decision making. His personality seems to be suited to playing in defense rather than attack, I don't think he has the durability to play forward of the ball. Don't fix what's not broken.

[K]

... seeing him on the ground seemingly arguing with the curator over the centre square- not a good look.

When was this? Tell us more.

[K]

...
What should have been our backbone for a decade of success is starting to look like a wasted decade of mediocrity.
...

For sure, 2011-9 was a wasted (almost) decade. The question is whether 2020-9 will be another wasted decade.

[Ronnie McKeowns boots]

A wonder if Crisp have a crack at him in the media may also have played on his mind; seemed a bit out of order to me, particularly for a young bloke away from his Victorian family

[Pies2016]

A wonder if Crisp have a crack at him in the media may also have played on his mind; seemed a bit out of order to me, particularly for a young bloke away from his Victorian family

Possibly but if that is the case, I hope he doesn’t bother to check his ( un ) social media any time soon.

[K]

... Crisp have a crack at him...

Did Crisp have a crack at him, or was he just too open and honest in interviews?

[Ronnie McKeowns boots]

Bit different though, team mate as opposed to faceless social media hacks