#35,#1 Jaidyn Stephenson

[Pies4shaw]

Just gotta keep playing him.. as painful as that is right now

Or not, apparently.

[The Boy Who Cried Wolf]

Just gotta keep playing him.. as painful as that is right now

Or not, apparently.

The kids got talent, we all know this... I don't know what's going on? but its 'you know who' job to get him back up and going again - if we are any genuine tilt at anything this year we'll need everyone playing at their best.

sigh...

[Raw Hammer]

Two weeks ago vs Carlton Stephenson could have had 5 goals.

You just don’t omit players who could bob up out of nowhere and be a match winner with his goal sense. If he’s not picked for tomorrow night, then it’s clear his 2020 campaign is finished.

[scoobydoo]

Two weeks ago vs Carlton Stephenson could have had 5 goals.

You just don’t omit players who could bob up out of nowhere and be a match winner with his goal sense. If he’s not picked for tomorrow night, then it’s clear his 2020 campaign is finished.

[Rd10.1998_11.1#36]

He's been named as an emergency against GCS

[Piesnchess]

* No pre-season
* Glandular fever
* Hub life
* peroxide
* third year blues

And the damn Gambling fiasco.

[slangman]

I really hope that his lack of pre season because of his bout of glandular fever is the reason behind his form slump this year.

Anything else would be of serious concern.

[swoop42]

Of course how Stephenson copes mentally will be a concern across the next 10 weeks and supporting him will be a priority for the club but I'm still worried about the player who returns.

Stephenson has been able to ride a wave of goodwill from the wider football community since his debut thanks to his eye catching exploits on field and amiable personality off it but it's fair to say the protective bubble that generally accompanies young AFL players has been burst, he's lost his innocence now and will have to cope with far greater scrutiny from officialdom, the media and more hostile opposition fans who will look to exploit the situation.

I just pray that the Jaidyn we see return is still the Jaidyn who until now has attacked a game of football in a manner that appears bereft of self doubt, one with the confidence to launch a torpedo from 60 and a player filled with the expectation he has the ability to turn the improbable into the possible every time he has the ball.

That was part of a post by me back on June 19th 2019.

Nothing I've seen since has me believing Stephenson is yet to overcome the mental burden that would have befallen him the day he was suspended by the AFL for gambling on football matches.

If his mental health wasn't a concern enough heading into the season then his physical health soon became another when he was diagnosed with glandular fever.

Add both together and is it really any surprise we find ourselves in this current predicament?

Now I have no problem with Stephenson being omitted again based on form as he's had a horror year but that's where it ends for me and any talk of him being traded shows a complete lack of understanding for the probable reasons behind his performances in 2020 and displays a shocking lack of acknowledgment for the talent we know he possesses.

No one questioned his ability in 2018 when he won the rising star award and was part of a Grand Final side.

No one was bemoaning his lack of physicality prior to and on the day he launched that torpedo from 55m in 2019.

From that point forward though he's had to contend with missing close to half his second season due to a breach of AFL player rules, an illness that put him on the back foot physically prior to this season commencing and a 1 in 100 year global pandemic that has disrupted the whole competition.

Fair to say that's a pretty intense first 3 years in the AFL for any young player.

Yes you can question his output and desire this year but the Stephenson we have witnessed this season isn't the Jaidyn we all fell in love with. Not even close. This is a player well down on confidence, still battling his mental demons I suspect and one who doesn't have the fitness base to battle through and overcome it this year.

Like I said I have no problem with Stephenson being omitted again but with only 1 game to go in the season after tonight and no reserves competition available I can't possibly see how he will magically find confidence and form again in time for finals and his season is effectively now over with this selection decision.

If that's the case then it might have been kinder to just send him home to his family and we begin the process of healing his mental and physical state in preparation for season 2021.

Finally I'd just like to say to Jaidyn that I and I'd like to believe the overwhelming majority of Collingwood supporters have long forgiven you for your indiscretion in 2019 and if your current situation is in part due to you continuing to punish yourself for your error in judgement then it's time to forgive yourself and start enjoying life and football again.

[the fuzz]

^ Would help if people stop taking the piss out of him in their avatar....oh wait

[Dave The Man]

If that's the case then it might have been kinder to just send him home to his family and we begin the process of healing his mental and physical state in preparation for season 2021.

Agree IF he is really homesick It might be a Good Idea to send him home and try and get him ready for the start of the 2021 Pre-Season

[K]

I'd be gobsmacked if any of them is homesick.

[swoop42]

^ Would help if people stop taking the piss out of him in their avatar....oh wait

Nah.

Much better to own it and try to get a laugh out of it along the way.

It's the Australian way.

[LaurieHolden]

Everything would point to a discipline matter but one thing is certain, with JDG in the forward line, Stephenson is more dangerous.

[Raw Hammer]

Despite his ‘horror’ season, he is still our second highest goal kicker this season. You don’t just magically find those goals with the next cab off the rank.

[5 from the wing on debut]

Despite his ‘horror’ season, he is still our second highest goal kicker this season. You don’t just magically find those goals with the next cab off the rank.

Ruscoe was tried, kicked goals, and promptly dropped. Those goals must not have been part of the game plan. Luckily, Varcoe put his hand up to play the role of the non goal kicking forward.