Should the AFL have the right to heavily condemn players who gamble when they receive so much sponsorship money from betting agencies?

It seems to be the question of the week after Jaidyn Stephenson was suspended for 10 games for gambling.

The young Magpie placed three multi-bets earlier in the season at a combined cost of just $36… and lost all three.

Along with his suspension, he was fined $20,000.

I understand the calls of hypocrisy, the AFL draws huge sums of sponsorship money from betting agencies.

But I would say this: trying to blame the AFL for a player’s wrongdoing is nothing more than a cop-out.

Players know that betting is a straight up and down sacrifice, regardless of who the AFL receives sponsorship money from.

Stephenson’s punishment was admittedly harsh, in my opinion, and strange - 10 weeks and 12 suspended.

Let’s be honest, those 12 are never going to come into play because if you get caught again, you’re in a lot more trouble than half a season suspended.

It’s almost too neat for me - 10 weeks leading up for a finals return but another 12 suspended to make a full year? I don’t get it.

Meanwhile, someone who breaches the drugs policy can get off with a warning after their first offence yet Stephenson disappears for half the season over $36.

Is it because breaching the drug policy is more black and white than gambling?

Think about it: How much did you bet? How often? Did you have insider information etc. A lot of factors can impact a gambling sanction.

I know the AFL wants to set a precedent to deter future gamblers - especially when it can grow into something darker, to a point where a player can be leveraged to affect the result of a game.

I just don’t get how a young player can miss 10 games while a drug offender gets nothing.

It would appear, then, that gambling is fast becoming the problem child of the AFL.

So what’s the solution for the AFL?

Ban the player with a set number of weeks for any involvement in gambling - make it 10 like Stephenson just as a precedent.

The second time, if you’re dumb enough to do something so frowned upon and so illegal within the code… then I don’t think you should be playing footy.

If you can’t make that sacrifice, maybe AFL is not for you.

Dale Lewis is the co-host of Triple M’s The Rush Hour with Jars & Louie, weekdays from 3-4pm and 6-7pm.

Lewis played 182 games for the Sydney Swans between 1990 and 2001.