Former Collingwood player Dale Thomas has pinpointed some of the horrible treatment Jaidyn Stephenson received from Magpies fans when he left the club amid the 25-year-old’s shock decision to quit the AFL. News emerged on Monday that Stephenson is set to retire with one year remaining on his contract with North Melbourne, in another sad twist to the former Rising Star’s career.
Stephenson is said to have lost his passion for the game, after a turbulent four seasons with the Kangaroos following his switch from Collingwood. Stephenson shot to stardom at the Pies and won the Rising Star award in 2018, but suffered an ugly fall from grace and has struggled at North.
He served a 10-game ban in 2019 for betting on matches he was involved in, and was traded to North at the end of the 2020 season amid Collingwood’s attempt to clear salary cap space. After kicking 76 goals in 54 games for the Magpies, he endured a patchy run at his second club.
He broke his hip in 2021 after he fell off his mountain bike in his backyard, having attempted to perform a trick while drinking at home with housemates. He ultimately played 68 games for North, kicking 54 goals – including eight majors in 12 games this year.
Collingwood fans’ horrible treatment of Jaidyn Stephenson
Throughout his time at North, he has constantly copped some pretty ordinary treatment from Collingwood supporters, who have been quick to celebrate his fall from grace. The news of his retirement also sparked some ugly responses on social media on Monday.
Discussing the situation on Tuesday morning, former Collingwood player Thomas lamented how the treatment would have taken a toll. Thomas, who played 157 games for the Pies, expressed his hope that Stephenson will be back playing AFL at some time in the future.
“The way he’s been much-maligned by not only supporters of Collingwood, the media and supporters of North Melbourne at times,” Thomas said on Triple M radio. “No doubt at some point he’ll have a think about it and find that spark again. Because at 25, he’s got plenty more good footy.”
Sports presenter Nick Quinn wrote on social media on Monday: “Some of the comments around Jaidyn Stephenson retiring are extremely disappointing. I don’t know why people feel the need to say such really horrible things.”
