Take this down please mods if not permitted!  From a Collingwood perspective, a supporter that takes a reasonably balanced view on Jaiden Stephenson .

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.

 

 

21 hours ago, Moonshadow said:

Does he pass any measure of the No DH rule?

He'd have to be an A grader to justify taking on the problems he has

This. But does he have the potential to become an A-grader? I think the no DH rule needs to be carefully assessed on a case-by-case basis. Was for Bennell, but not Sam Murray. Don't know why - but an older guy with past problems is probably better than a younger guy with current ones. I trust our club to make the determination on the matter. Can't see it happening. 

That explosive pace off the mark is more than handy. Would complement our hard at it mids.

Having to go through life being called Jaidyn and being a bogan from Fern Tree Gully are hard to overcome though!

Very good option, hadn't even thought of him.  Needs a good mentor like a hibberd or may.  Has massive upside and coll can't expect too much for him after dropping him like 4 times throughout the season.

At tge right price could be a great get!

19 hours ago, NeveroddoreveN said:

Take this down please mods if not permitted!  From a Collingwood perspective, a supporter that takes a reasonably balanced view on Jaiden Stephenson .

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.

 

 

Snip.

Notwithstanding the heartfelt nature of that, I am experiencing some congitive dissonance. I've always thought that writing like that is beyond all Collingwood supporters?

Has a Demonland member infiltrated the Pies board to try to undermine any thoughts of keeping him to help underpin any effort to get him?

On 9/14/2020 at 10:00 PM, Smokey said:

in a heartbeat 

In a Heartbeat A BIG NO... Softer than Ice cream in the sahara, plus from what I've heard not the sharpest tool in the shed!

PASS 

Wouldn't mind Gunston! Bruest even better!

2 hours ago, Superunknown said:

Snip.

Notwithstanding the heartfelt nature of that, I am experiencing some congitive dissonance. I've always thought that writing like that is beyond all Collingwood supporters?

Has a Demonland member infiltrated the Pies board to try to undermine any thoughts of keeping him to help underpin any effort to get him?

234 pages currently on him over there....from reading last 5 or so pages there sure is a lot being thrown up...Like he has chronic fatigue syndrome etc....feeling i get is most definitely don't want to lose him.

i was surprised myself that a Collingwood supporter could be so eloquent and balanced.  Certainly not your standard nuffy!

21 hours ago, dee-tox said:

That explosive pace off the mark is more than handy. Would complement our hard at it mids.

Having to go through life being called Jaidyn and being a bogan from Fern Tree Gully are hard to overcome though!

As a general trend, we seem to be short on bogans. As I understand it, we passed on Dusty. Get the guy in, I reckon, and load him up with video games, overground backyard swimming pools, a beer can hat with straw, a lifetime supply of pizza and coke (drink), and a V8.  

4 hours ago, picket fence said:

In a Heartbeat A BIG NO... Softer than Ice cream in the sahara, plus from what I've heard not the sharpest tool in the shed!

PASS 

Wouldn't mind Gunston! Bruest even better!

But those guys are old. 

9 hours ago, picket fence said:

In a Heartbeat A BIG NO... Softer than Ice cream in the sahara, plus from what I've heard not the sharpest tool in the shed!

PASS 

Wouldn't mind Gunston! Bruest even better!

Fair call, I think he has a lot of upside though. 

I'm with you on Gunstan 100%. His leadership up forward would be crucial 

Isn’t he the player who had heart issues?

4 minutes ago, The Third Eye said:

Isn’t he the player who had heart issues?

Yep, diagnosed with a pea heart 

On talent yes, but definite no in terms of workrate, value for money and quality of person.

On 9/14/2020 at 7:11 PM, dazzledavey36 said:

There is a bit of talk going around that this bloke could be on the trade table. Salary cap is bursting at Collingwood and they need to trade out a good talent to keep the likes of DeGoey and Moore.

Found this from Grimesy87 off bigfooty.

Dees having a very good chat to Stephenson's management...
Looks improbable so far, but one whisper is he feels left out at Collingwood.

Collingwood trying to shift some mid tier contracts by the sound of it. Apparently Elliott could be available as well. They need to re-sign a couple of their guns & they are also in desperate need of a key forward. Something has to give.

6 minutes ago, ChaserJ said:

Collingwood trying to shift some mid tier contracts by the sound of it. Apparently Elliott could be available as well. They need to re-sign a couple of their guns & they are also in desperate need of a key forward. Something has to give.

What's Elliots contract status??

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

What's Elliots contract status??

Hope we don't plan on wasting another trade week pursuing him. Especially if the Pies only signed him from Free Agrncy with a plan to trade him for picks a year later.

If I was a betting man... 

16 minutes ago, Graeme Yeats' Mullet said:

If I was a betting man... 

Yes? 

38 minutes ago, Graeme Yeats' Mullet said:

If I was a betting man... 

You'd take a gamble on JS?

34 minutes ago, Skuit said:

Yes? 

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2019-jaidyn-stephenson-faces-lengthy-ban-after-allegedly-selfreporting-to-betting-on-collingwood-game/news-story/dee27643a9c747ecf3f33f8c2e642b2c

 

2 minutes ago, Graeme Yeats' Mullet said:

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2019-jaidyn-stephenson-faces-lengthy-ban-after-allegedly-selfreporting-to-betting-on-collingwood-game/news-story/dee27643a9c747ecf3f33f8c2e642b2c

 

Oh. I missed the joke. I'll move on. 

On 9/17/2020 at 2:30 PM, Grr-owl said:

But those guys are old. 

Has pace and skill might be a little lazy but Gunston and Bruest will be looking for my Old Mans frame sooner rather than later. 

3 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

What's Elliots contract status??

UFA at end 2021.

Edited September 18, 20205 yr by ChaserJ

On 9/16/2020 at 11:29 PM, Travy14 said:

Very good option, hadn't even thought of him.  Needs a good mentor like a hibberd or may.

Two players that don't play his position!

I just get this feeling with Stephenson that he's as good as he's going to get. Not a bad thing of course and you can win flags with these guys but I wouldn't want to be overpaying him.