AFL trade news: Jordan De Goey signs new contract with Collingwood
Jordan De Goey had baulked at an initial contract offer due to behavioural clauses. And a compromise brokered by Collingwood and his manager helped get the deal done.
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Collingwood is confident Jordan De Goey is ready to produce the best football of his career after signing him to a blockbuster five-year deal.
The superstar ballwinner knocked back a lucrative offer from St Kilda to stay with the Magpies “for life” in a huge boost to the club’s premiership prospects under coach Craig McRae.
De Goey met with the Saints and was impressed by their direction but decided to recommit to Collingwood on Thursday night after speaking with his parents.
“I have bled black and white for the past eight years,” De Goey said.
“Looking forward to another five more. Pie for life!”
The blockbuster deal completes a significant turnaround for De Goey, whose career at Collingwood hung in the balance after he copped a $25,000 suspended fine for pulling a female friend’s top down on video in Bali.
He took some personal leave and missed one game to deal with the intense fallout as speculation intensified the Magpies were better off without him.
But Collingwood is convinced he has made the necessary changes required to flourish on and off the field after a strong second half of the season ended with two brilliant finals performances.
It underlined his status as one of the most damaging goal kicking midfielders in the game and helped sway Collingwood chiefs to ramp up contract talks.
The Magpies stood firm on having some behavioural clauses in the contract which were designed to protect the club from a full payout in the event of another major off-field incident.
However, it is believed they only apply to the first two years of De Goey’s contract as part of a compromise brokered by football manager Graham Wright and De Goey’s manager Ryan Vague.
Vague said he suspected De Goey never wanted to leave Collingwood but was adamant the clauses could not be unfair on his client or set a restrictive precedent for other players.
“We weren’t going to have Jordan held to any standards above that of what is expected of an AFL player under rules and regs,” Vague told the league website.
“Even the PA (AFL Players’ Association) was strong on that this week, so were we.
“We weren’t here to set a precedent moving forward that could expose players to more.
“The club was very respectful of that. Jordy is still bound by the behaviours expected of an AFL player.”
De Goey knocked back $1 million a year offer from North Melbourne in 2016 and leaves St Kilda at a crossroad in regard to its list after missing out on the man who could help it springboard into the top-four next season.
The Saints could now hit the draft in a bid to focus on more top-end young talent and are expected to appoint experienced football manager Geoff Walsh to head of football, as News Corp reported on Wednesday.
Collingwood football boss Wright was thrilled to re-sign De Goey in reward for his excellent second half of the season which included multiple injury setbacks.
“We’re delighted Jordan has agreed to extend his contract to stay at Collingwood,” Wright said.
“Jordan is a talented footballer and his commitment to improve his game has seen him perform strongly this year, particularly during the back-end of the season and during the finals series where he was exciting to watch.
“We feel Jordan’s best football is in front of him and, as a Club, we will continue to support him as he grows as a player and as a person.”
De Goey turns back on rival offers to stay with Magpies
Collingwood superstar Jordan De Goey has turned his back on a lucrative offer from St Kilda to re-sign with the Magpies.
Despite some angst over some behavioural causes, the brilliant ballwinner has recommitted at Collingwood for another five years.
The deal is a massive boost to the Magpies as it keeps the club’s most damaging midfielder at Collingwood after an excellent finals series which underlined his status as one of the best goal kicking onballers in the game.
However it remains unclear whether forward Ollie Henry will stay at the club as he weighs up strong interest from Geelong.
St Kilda is now at a key crossroad after missing out on De Goey’s signature as the club was keen to poach the Pie to help the Saints jump into the top-four mix.
The 26-year-old’s deal will take him to the end of 2027. He was an unrestricted free agent but always preferred to stay at the Magpies.
De Goey’s contract includes some behavioural clauses which gives the club some protection in the event De Goey lets the Magpies down with any more major off-field antics.
De Goey initially baulked at signing deal including behavioural clauses but together football boss Graham Wright and manager Ryan Vague reached a compromise.
Collingwood was keen to include some behavioural clauses which would terminate De Goey’s contract if he was responsible for another major incident which did not meet the Magpies’ expectations.
De Goey was handed a suspended $25,000 fine for pulling down a female friend’s top on video in Bali mid-season and was stood down late last year for an incident in a New York nightclub.
But the Magpies have been thrilled with his application and dedication to his football and some changes off the field since the Bali escapades.
The club put off talks on his contract midseason but coach Craig McRae was clear the club wanted to keep him and that De Goey deserved a new deal.
“I have bled black and white for the past eight years,” De Goey said.
“Looking forward to another five more.
“I want to thank the Collingwood Football Club, family, friends and sponsors.
“Pie for life!”
Collingwood football manager Graham Wright said De Goey’s best footy was in front of him in the black and white stripes.
“We’re delighted Jordan has agreed to extend his contract to stay at Collingwood,” Wright said.
“Jordan is a talented footballer and his commitment to improve his game has seen him perform strongly this year, particularly during the back-end of the season and during the finals series where he was exciting to watch.
“We feel Jordan’s best football is in front of him and, as a Club, we will continue to support him as he grows as a player and as a person.”
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Originally published as AFL trade news: Jordan De Goey signs new contract with Collingwood
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