Brownlow medalist and former Collingwood premiership player Dane Swan has urged the recently-banned Jaidyn Stephenson to get out of Victoria in the coming weeks while he serves his 10-match suspension for betting on Collingwood games.
The 19-year-old will miss the remainder of the home-and-away season but will be eligible to play come finals if Collingwood qualifies.
“If I was counselling him, I would’ve said try not to read [the news] at all. Especially with mental health being a big thing in this day and age,” Swan told SEN Afternoons.
“I would’ve said, mate, and it probably would’ve been a bad look, but get away.
“Listen, you’re done for 10 weeks, go up north for four or five days, get some sun, refresh, go away with the mates and just think about what you’ve done and come back because we want you flying when everyone else is a bit niggly (sic) come finals."
Swan noted how Stephenson isn't the first to get into trouble; Jordan de Goey was caught drink driving last year, Swan himself had his own troubles. Stephenson isn't even the latest Pie to get caught gambling on his own matches as was recounted last week on Zero Hanger.
Nathan Buckley outlined his plan for the young Magpie in the coming rounds on SEN's Whateley:
“We now have a plan for him. Geoff Walsh, Nick Maxwell and Stephenson have sat down and mapped out a plan for him and it includes a few little breathers, but there’s a couple of heavy training blocks in there,” Buckley said.
“He’s going to help us prepare for our games weekly.”
