Was Stephenson's punishment fair?

More to this than meets the eye. Collingwood is not so virtuous that it would willingly cut off an arm over a handful of inconsequential wagers.

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

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. And it is pathetic that Eddie (oooh, it's big scary Eddie. We'd better do as he wants or he'll shout at us) gets a say in the penalty, getting it reduced to a convenient 'back in time for finals' length. Absolutely weak from the AFL. As GOAT says, soft option.

Big gap between supposedly reporting and action. What is going on here? Stephenson earlier admitted guilt, casting doubt on pretty much everything that has come after. This story has clay feet. Might be some gold under there for the right Roar reporter...

James' points are well made, and I agree that on-field offences and off-field gambling offences are quite different things, with gambling of this nature directly affecting integrity of the game. However, in my view, the AFL is, as seems to be its inconsistent way, coming down heavily on some things (eg, crowd behaviour, gambling), but being relatively light-touch on other things (eg, on-field 'violence') - I like your point from the perspective that the severity of punishment for on-field acts needs to be seriously extended (which I understand may not be a popular view, but if you want to role model the right behaviours, especially to kids playing the game, that's where you'd start)

Just saw Eddie's statement that the AFL started much higher than 10 weeks but Collingwood negotiated them down!! Isn't it good to know the AFL is so strong on this that the let the perpetrator have input into what penalty is acceptable!!

Every player knows not to take illicit drugs, but that doesn't stop them. Every player knows not to get involved in late night incidents, but that doesn't stop them. The AFL wants to get in bed with the gambling industry, but then externalise all responsibility for poor gambling choices onto the players. We are utterly inundated with gambling advertising whether at the game or in ad breaks during play. If gambling is so dangerous to the integrity of the competition, then end this alliance with the gambling industry immediately. We're getting mixed messages here from the AFL. When they decided to get into bed with the bookmakers this would always be the eventual outcome. The entire purpose of inundating the public with gambling advertising whether at the game or in-play ad breaks is to get young men like Stephenson hooked on gambling and for it to be normalised as a recreational activity.

The bets placed are completely different. Brayden Sier did not bet on any matches he was involved in. He could not influence the outcome of the bet. The closest case to this one is clearly Heath Shaw's, he got 14 games, 6 suspended. Although Heath used inside information to place a $101-1 bet for Nick Maxwell to kick the first goal (Shaw knew he was usually starting forward), he couldn't actually influence the outcome of the bet. Jaidyn could and that is the real issue. Jaidyn bet on teammates to get certain number of possession's, it would be easy for him to seek out that teammate to ensure they got the ball more. Does Jaidyn try that 65m barrel for goal against St Kilda if he hadn't wagered he'd kick three against them? There is clear potential for spot fixing with his bets.

The fact is Jaidyn didn't intentionally tell Howe. He let it slip accidentally. If he had continued to bet surely he would have had more 'accidents' and eventually would have got caught. I'm not so sure the AFL machinations are as poor as you claim. What exactly do you think they should be doing that they aren't?

The fact that Jeremy Howe was the one who convinced him to self report means the ‘secret’ was already out. Stephenson told Howe. Howe could have kept it to himself. It's quite impressive by Howe for making the right choice here. It's extremely probable there are players past/present who have dropped coin on games and went unnoticed. The AFL mechanisms for catching players are surprisingly very poor. They are entirely reliant upon word of mouth. Nothing more.

I am with respected great of the game Bob Murphy who like me thinks it is excessive. The $20,000 fine and 4 weeks would have been more fitting for a kid like most his age naive and think there bullet proof.

I’m suggesting the scale of the penalty in relation to the potential financial gain is excessive. Indeed - but what if he won? There's a huge risk he'd be parlaying the winnings into bigger bets and bigger outcomes etc. It's harsh, but necessary. Has to be stamped out.

@Peter I agree it's a slippery slope, but the last person who was guilty of betting got a $5k fine for a $50 bet. So using that logic he should've been fined $3600.... No I'm not suggesting that should be the penalty but pointing out the inconsistency.

The cynic in me says that if he'd reported a couple of weeks ago he'd have got 12 weeks with 10 suspended...

I actually joked about him being caught out that way yesterday but dismissed the idea thinking nobody could be that stupid.

@spruce no I'm not condoning it at all, I'm suggesting the scale of the penalty in relation to the potential financial gain is excessive. I have no doubt he's been educated over and over again and he's made a mistake which should come with a penalty.

Yes he did 'self report'. That is why 12 of his 22 week suspension is suspended. To claim he would never have been caught is disingenuous. It may be unlikely he would have been but you cannot categorically rule a line though it. The fact that Jeremy Howe was the one who convinced him to self report means the 'secret' was already out. Was only a matter of time before other knew too. If it hadn't been for Stephenson's little 'slip' he would have likely continued to bet and eventually would have won one and then who know, possibly bragged about it.

He self reported because Howe told him to.

Well said James.

I get the comparison and pondered it myself but they can’t weight punishment over drug offences, belting an 18 year old kid like Gaff did, gambling, drink driving...would be impossible to weight. When a player bets on himself to kick 3 goals? Dangerous tightrope right there.