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Jaidyn Stephenson has already served one game of his 10-match suspension.Credit:Joe Armao

This key bit of information went a long way to the AFL's integrity unit clearing Stephenson of match-fixing.

"The investigation concluded there was no evidence to suggest there was any intent to influence the outcomes within the contests in relation to the bets,"AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon said when Stephenson's penalty was announced.

It can also be revealed that Stephenson had already achieved one of the legs in his multi-bet against the Saints,which was on himself to kick a goal.

Collingwood were leading the Saints by 40 points with two-and-a-half minutes left in the game when Stephenson opted for a breathtaking spiral.

He got on to a torpedo that sailed through the middle of the goal posts,extending the margin to 46 points and therefore all but nullifying one of his bets.

"Oh my God,I was just shaking my head,"Collingwood teammate Brodie Grundy told broadcaster Fox Footy after the game.

The Age understands that integrity officers deemed the kick the crucial piece of information that cleared the Magpies youngster of anything more sinister than illegal gambling,though the AFL has said that none of Stephenson's three multi-bets were successful.

As revealed byThe Age last week,it was in the victorious rooms of the round nine game that Stephenson accidentally declared his wager to teammate and Collingwood leader Jeremy Howe,who later advised Stephenson to seek counsel from the club's head of football,Geoff Walsh.

Stephenson served game one of his 10-match sanction during the Magpies'win over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday.

The forward livewire will be hoping to return to the senior side in the first week of finals in September,which is looking like being a qualifying final,with the Pies in second spot on the ladder behind Geelong.

The AFL announced last week that after a month-long investigation,Stephenson was found to have placed a total of $36 on three same-game multi-bets in three separate matches.

"He was clear – he knew that he was doing the wrong thing,"said Andrew Dillon,the AFL's lead general counsel.

"He couldn't explain it … he felt incredibly remorseful when he came to that conclusion."

The other two matches Stephenson placed bets on were Collingwood's round four clash against the Western Bulldogs and the Magpies'Anzac Day game against Essendon in round six.

On two occasions Stephenson gave cash to a friend to place the bets for him while on the other occasion he placed the bet via a friend's betting account.

When contacted by The Age,the AFL said it would not comment on any aspect of investigations conducted by the integrity unit.

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