Somebody needs to say it: you, AFL, are an appallingly inept organisation.
Jaidyn Stephenson was stupid. Nobody can dispute that. Rules on betting are clear. But a penalty of ten weeks, and a further 12 suspended, is a gross overreaction.
But why should we expect anything else from the AFL?
The Melbourne Football Club is repeatedly accused of tanking, but the AFL didn’t dare use the t-word, despite some baffling on-field moves and a period of prolonged poor performances and lots of murmurs. Until proof emerges that Melbourne did purposely tank, and the AFL do what? Well, the AFL do nothing at all.
The dilute the talent pool by introducing extra clubs, they saturate the season with games scheduled at bizarre times, they continue to champion an inequitable fixture, they change rules to attempt to improve aesthetics in the game they deem unpalatable, they mishandle the Adam Goodes situation and issue an apology years later, and even now, most recently, they beg innocence in ramped-up security at games where people are being reprimanded or tossed out for barracking.
It’s tantamount to watching the on-screen management of WWE. The difference is that in the WWE, the management usually gets their comeuppance. Not with the AFL. When you try to question them, when you try to hold them accountable, we get the old chestnut, “The game’s in good shape – look at the crowds.”
(AAP Image/Dan Peled)
I’ve followed the game for 40 years. I followed it because I was drawn to the actual game itself – the act of kicking the ball, of marking it, of winning the contest. I didn’t know anything about politics, or why rules needed tweaking, or bombastic media coverage that feels every second of a footballer’s life should be available for public consumption.
For me, it was simple: get the ball and kick it. Emulate my heroes. Play in a team and beat our opposition. Come the end of the week, cheer my team, cheer against the opposition.
But as I grew older and lost that naivety, I could consume the game on all those different levels and see what a fractured mosaic it is, like somebody dropped it years ago and never put it back together quite right.
What holds me to it (tenuously now) is my dedication to my team. I don’t think I’ve agreed with a single thing the AFL has done for over a decade – the last change I agreed to was allowing a player to kick from straight in front if he marked in the goal square. Wow! Some logic.
The rest has just been ridiculous posturing that nobody’s asked for, and which continues to distort the game and alienate it from its fan-base.
The penalty imposed on Jaidyn Stephenson is as ridiculous as most things the AFL do. The kid self-reports. I shudder to think what the penalty would’ve been if he hadn’t. But they whack him anyway. Ten weeks. Meanwhile, watching a game on TV involves being inundated with Sportsbet ads where Nathan Brown espouses all the new enticements to gamble.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Cultivate in your audience – in the very kids you’re claiming to nurture into the next generation to grow the game – that gambling is good, that there are no real losses now (because of all those qualifications Nathan Brown spouts about your team being in front at the breaks, blah blah).
Inculcate your audiences to the symbiotic relationship gambling now shares with the AFL, given we get odds on games, premiership favourites, who’ll win the Brownlow, the list goes on. It must be good given the pervasiveness of its promotion.
Jaidyn Stephenson did a stupid thing. He tried to make it right by self-reporting. And the AFL smashed him.
Here’s the lesson for all you out there: deny everything for as long as you can.
In the long run, it’ll work out much better for you.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
It most certainly isn’t.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Way to miss the point completely.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
Repeating “but Bob Murphy said this” isn’t an argument.
Danny
Guest
thats exactly the point Its not as if there is a lack of betting options in Australia...you name it every sport. When I was kid it was just horses and dogs but now endless choices, but he chose to bet on himself and his team where he could influence the outcome.
Gee
Roar Rookie
He should of got the full year, he would of if he was playing for North or the Bulldogs. AFL sucking up to a big club as usual and hoping Eddy doesn't start bad mouthing them on radio.
ChrisH
Roar Rookie
I thought penalty harsh too, Les, until I heard that he didn't exactly self-report. Rather, he was having a laugh about missing the multi to Jeremy Howe who told him it was wrong and he should report it. That's quite different to the story we initially heard that it was entirely of his own initiative. And so, if Howe had've laughed it off too, the Stephenson would still be betting Pies' games.
Aus in Engerland
Roar Rookie
Richie Tiger is right that at 20 he is an adult, not a kid. Players these days are professionals. They turn up at a club and don't just get taught how to play football the way the club wants them to (systems/roles/plays etc.). They get taught about drugs, behaviour, racism, sexism and amazingly, gambling, amongst other stuff. If all he did was bet on a few AFL games then that would have been dumb and worthy of a couple of weeks and a fine. It's the betting on games you are playing in and even how many goals you yourself will kick that elevates this from dumb to significant and dumb. And again like RichieT, I also agree with what you are saying re Gilligans Island.
Cat
Roar Guru
So if Jaidyn doesn't have a wager on himself to kick 3 goals against the Saints does he still let fly with a 65m barrel for goal?
Cat
Roar Guru
Those who are allowed to gamble cannot influence the outcome of those wagers, unlike Jaidyn.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Stupid lad he is only 20 like most his age, a know all, making mistakes, still immature lot of growing up to do, bulletproof and not really a man for mine. Not defending his act stupidity at its best. Penalty is excessive.
RT
Roar Rookie
Some of us do have an idea thanks Peter. Others may not. He is not a kid, he is an adult. Don't use the old "kid" line to downplay stupid behaviour. I do agree with you on one point though. Gilligan.
RT
Roar Rookie
It is a concerning issue and the AFL argued for a longer suspension. I don't know which body within the AFL handed down the suspension, but I guess it was the tribunal. Min. 1 year for being on yourself would be good.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
They will pick him if a flag rides on it .
Aransan
Roar Rookie
He is too good to leave out, they will have to play him into form in the finals. Surely they can give him some good match simulations in preparation.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
So some in here think the kid should have got life and some think the ten weeks is way over. Seems none of us have any idea really. It is probably because of the numerous mixed messages from the AFL itself over several years under Gilligan. None of us have a clue what on earth is happening on Gilligans Island.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Spot fixing is the potential issue here. Everything seems to have simply been a guy backing himself, not colluding to ensure certain outcomes occurred (think cricket, when Pakistani players received bans ranging from five years to life) which is the base for spot-fixing. There does not appear to be any "fixing" part in this case. This seems a few levels below that. A hefty suspension is called for, and if it is true (as reported in some circles) he only self-reported after another player pointed out the obvious - and himself became obligated to report - then the reduction for self-reporting once you know it will come out anyway is surely reduced. [I stress the "if", the only place I've heard that is not reliable.]
PeteB
Roar Rookie
If this is such a concerning issue I would expect the AFL to have clear policies in place such as a minimum one year suspension for any betting misdemeanour. But they don’t, and once again it’s just a random arbitrary decision.
RT
Roar Rookie
Really? GB68 is taking about where this sort of activity could lead to. That is why it is serious.
RT
Roar Rookie
Sounds bogus to me.
Aus in Engerland
Roar Rookie
I fundamentally disagree with the author on this issue. Just because they were weak on Melbourne tanking, it doesn't mean that because this offence is less serious you have to be even weaker to make the penalty less than that given to Melbourne. On that, the error of the AFL was not on how hard they (correctly) came down on this, but how pathetic they were on Melbourne. JS not only bet on the sport he plays (No-No), he bet on his own team (BIG No-No), and he bet on his own performance (HUGE No-No). The last alone should have got him a year.