PIE BET BAN
’IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY STUPID THING TO DO’
COLLINGWOOD star Jaidyn Stephenson has been understandably devastated by his AFL ban, but he can still be part of a premiership team this season despite multiple breaches of the league’s gambling code.
Stephenson choked back tears yesterday while attempting to explain the circumstances behind his “incredibly stupid” decisions to flout the AFL’s strict wagering rules.
Debate raged about the severity of the penalty after he was given a 22-game ban and a $20,000 fine for placing three bets on games he was playing in.
The 20-year-old was given the chance to play again this year if the Pies make the finals after the league suspended 12 matches of the sentence, which will apply for the remainder of his career. Stephenson placed three unsuccessful multi-bets on three separate games involving his team, with the wager totalling $36.
On two occasions he gave cash to a friend to place the bet using a betting app and on the other used his friend’s online betting account himself.
“I’m fully aware that as an AFL footballer I’m not allowed to bet on AFL matches but I justified my behaviour ...” Stephenson began before stopping to compose himself at yesterday’s press conference..
“It was an incredibly stupid thing to do and I now realise the seriousness of what I’ve done.
“I’m very embarrassed that I’ve let myself, my family, my teammates and our loyal fans down.
“I’m devastated that I won’t be able to pull on a Collingwood jumper for the next 10 weeks.
“I’m committed to spending my time on the sidelines reflecting on how I can make better decisions in the future.
“I want to issue an unreserved apology to those who I have let down and hope that, in time, I can earn back any trust that I have lost.”
Stephenson struggled to explain why it took three bets for him to realise his error and speak to Pies football boss Geoff Walsh.
“I think the first two times I was just a bit oblivious to it,” he said. “In the moment I was a little bit ignorant and I thought it might just be harmless, but after the third time it was just weighing on me. It was starting to build up.
“I was just feeling way too guilty.”
While still allowed to train with the club, Stephenson will miss the rest of the home-andaway season but will be able to return in the first week of the finals should Collingwood advance.
He will still receive his base wage but will forego lucrative match payments.
“This is the toughest penalty imposed under our wagering rules,” said AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon.
“There is no clearer instruction — AFL players, club and league officials are banned from betting on Australian Rules Football in any form.
“The rules are very clear and if you breach them you will be penalised. Jaidyn’s actions have compromised the integrity of the game.”
The last bet was on the Magpies’ Round 9 match against St Kilda on May 18, with Stephenson self-reporting a day later.
Walsh advised the AFL’s integrity unit the same day, which opened an investigation.
Stephenson said he didn’t think about the bets during the games in question or modify his behaviour on the field in any way, a conclusion that Dillon said the AFL had come to after reviewing those matches.
He added Stephenson’s self-reporting, remorse and cooperation with the investigation had contributed to the suspended portion of the match ban.