North Melbourne recruiter Jayden Stephenson has taken Collingwood and coach Nathan Buckley on the job of handling his exit.
Stevenson traded on Thursday despite having three years left on his pie contract
He has now signed a five-year agreement with the kangaroo rebuilding after two weeks of « whirlwind »
“Maybe a week or two before the trade period started, my manager came to me and said you might be ready to trade,” the 21-year-old told SEN Radio
“It was a shock at first but with time I dealt with it now I think I made the right decision.”
Stephenson confirmed that he personally contacted Kelly after no one from the club’s football department contacted him.
But he was shocked by the coach’s excuses about trade, which comes amid pressure on the salary cap on pies.
The striker said, « I heard nothing from the club so Pax called me myself to find out what was going on »
“He pretty much said that he is looking for a deal as aggressively as you want and we will try to facilitate it.
“There was no very clear reason but I think the best was achieved.
“He just said that he does not know if I have allowed myself to open up to the group, which I do not necessarily agree with, but if that is what he saw then he is the coach and this is (one of his powers)
“I will be liked by my new team-mates and coaches and I hope to do my best if he thinks this is my problem”
Scored 76 goals in 54 games for Collingwood, but has been dropped multiple times until 2020
The young Victorian kicked off his debut season by scoring 38 goals in 26 matches as Pies reached the 2018 Grand Final
But his career has since faltered over a 10-match ban over betting violations and a bout of glandular fever late last year, which hampered his 2020 pre-season ahead of the start of the coronavirus disruption season.
« I wouldn’t say I pissed (Cold Buckley), I was a little shocked Stephenson said: This is probably the best word to use
« But I’m so grateful to Collingwood, I only have good things to say about my time there
« He also said he saw some issues he didn’t like in a soccer player and maybe that is totally fair because I haven’t had a great year. It has been a challenging year
« Being in the center I felt that there was no liberation from football and maybe I got in my head a little bit the feelings of everyone in the center escalated
« If you’re going to judge me for a year, that’s their problem – not mine. I work really hard to prove people wrong »
In a second interview with Trade Radio, Stevenson said, « I loved playing Collingwood until being told you were not wanted, it hurts. »
Meanwhile, he said he’s been talking to Adam Trailwar nearly every day amid Collingwood’s campaign to undermine his standing at the club
“I hope everything will be fine for him and he can really make the money he will have for the next five years”
The youngster said he was also in constant contact with his Collingwood teammates – a stark contrast to the way the club handled his departure
“There was only one time I called Bucks, and it was the only time I spoke with anyone in the management in Collingwood,” Stephenson said
“I got streamed messages from my team mates, and they were all checking in to a big bunch of guys”
Stephenson moves to North Melbourne with teammate Pies Atu Bosenavulagi, who has competed in three NFL matches
“Atu is probably the nicest person I have ever met, and he will definitely help add to the culture that North Melbourne is trying to create,” he said
Collingwood Football Club, Australian Football League, North Melbourne Football Club, Giden Stephenson, Adam Trailwar, Western Bulldogs, Josh Dunkley
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SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com