AFL trades: Collingwood wins make Jordan De Goey re-signing even more important
Every time Collingwood wins the potential free agency compensation for Jordan DeGoey gets worse. So they may need to pay him what he wants.
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Collingwood’s stunning charge towards September is heightening the temptation to pay free agent Jordan De Goey what he wants because the club’s potential compensation pick could fall below market value.
Rival list managers have warned the 8-5 Magpies’ ladder position of eighth after round 13 would only spit out draft pick No. 12 under the AFL’s compensation rules, which would be a hard sell to supporters in the event De Goey goes.
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The Pies slumped to 17th last year – a position that would’ve netted pick No. 3 for De Goey, who is sunning it up in Bali during the bye.
Premiership captain Tony Shaw said on Thursday the club’s list management team would be reluctant to lose De Goey after rebounding back up the ladder and therefore diluting its compensation.
“The higher we finish the lower our pick for him, as such. Look, this decision isn’t in Collingwood’s hands in a way,” Shaw said.
“We can offer him money and if they can’t come to an arrangement I think that’s pretty ordinary.
“Even though he’s had parts to play in the past month, Collingwood haven’t needed him to be in their best six or seven to get the job done.
“They’re spreading the load pretty well. It’s going to be about Jordy being happy with the environment he’s in.
“I just think Jordan De Goey will do what Jordan De Goey thinks is best for him, and hopefully it comes the club‘s way.
“If he goes elsewhere, it happens.”
Melbourne famously lost free agent James Frawley after finishing 17th in 2014, allowing it to draft Christian Petracca at No. 2 and Angus Brayshaw with the compensation pick at No.3.
But Hawthorn only received pick No. 19 as compensation for Lance Franklin because he left after winning a premiership.
The Hawks split the pick, securing Billy Hartung (No. 24) and Jon Ceglar (No. 59).
Magpies premiership star Mick McGuane urged the club to retain De Goey.
“My simple philosophy is you don’t get rid of match winners,” McGuane said.
“As far as I’m concerned he’s a matchwinner and Collingwood haven’t got many of them, so you sign him.
“You don’t even entertain the discussion.”
De Goey has told friends he would probably only leave the Pies for a big club. Essendon is armed with salary cap space and is desperate to poach a free agent but is expected to look elsewhere.
They currently hold the No. 3 draft pick, which will be off limits in trade period, and ideally would bring in a gun 18-year-old plus a free agent — but that is unlikely to be De Goey.
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Clubs expect Fremantle to consider making a play for free agent Angus Brayshaw in a move that would see the Melbourne premiership star join brother Andrew (Dockers) and Hamish (East Perth) in the west.
Most clubs canvassed on Thursday valued De Goey between $600,000-700,000, well short of the million-dollar price tag that is often thrown up.
Only two players in the AFL have averaged at least 20 disposals, 400m gained and one goal this season – Marcus Bontempelli and De Goey.
De Goey is also ranked No. 2 for clearances, behind Tom Liberatore, for all players classed as midfielder-forwards by Champion Data.
But De Goey has finished inside the top 10 of Collingwood’s best-and-fairest only twice in seven seasons.
The 26-year-old came eighth in 2018 and fourth last year. He has never been named All-Australian, is not an on-field leader and has a history of behavioural issues.
De Goey turned his back on a $5 million offer from North Melbourne in 2018 but received little interest when he shopped himself around in 2020.
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Originally published as AFL trades: Collingwood wins make Jordan De Goey re-signing even more important
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