Jordan de Goey’s decision to go to Germany has turned into a stunning success

Jordan de Goey has gone from his season being over to a chance of making a shock return should Collingwood beat GWS. Jon Ralph looks at how the next week could play out for the superstar Magpie.

Jon Ralph

2 min read

September 20, 2019 - 12:30PM

Jordan de Goey’s decision to go to Germany has turned into a stunning success

Collingwood’s “Hail Mary” decision to send Jordan de Goey to Germany has turned into a stunning success that could see him make a shock Grand Final return.

De Goey returned from treatment overseas last Sunday and immediately set about peeling off a series of impressive training performances.

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He conducted sprints and parts of Collingwood’s training session on Thursday, churning out a 7-8km training session with no pain or soreness in his hamstring.

The Herald Sun understands if Collingwood beats GWS on Saturday, he would test his injured hamstring at 90 per cent intensity in a Sunday session that could hit 10-11km.

He injured his hamstring in the opening minute of the qualifying final but would have had 22 days to recover from that injury by Grand Final day.

Jordan de Goey’s decision to go to Germany has turned into a stunning success

It would set the scene for a difficult decision for Collingwood’s medical staff given they would weigh up his brilliance with how early he broke down in the qualifying final.

He was still able to play for more than a quarter after that injury, tackling Tom Atkins to the ground, but didn’t feel he could stretch out.

Coach Nathan Buckley said on Thursday after he took part in much of that training session that the club hoped his hamstring injury was not as bad as initially believed.

“He is moving well so whether that’s the work he has done over in Germany I dare say it would be but also it might indicate the injury potentially wasn’t as we may have thought.

“He did run around for 40 minutes after feeling it in the qualifying final so we are not getting carried away with what we have seen.

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“After today he will watch and observe our game and we will watch and make a decision on what he does after that.”

De Goey has told friends he will be fit to play as long as he doesn’t suffer another setback, having initially had a six-week break leading into the qualifying final contest.

That hamstring issue was close to his tendon, with the Pies able to exercise caution because they had already locked in a finals spot.

Bayern Munich’s veteran head doctor Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt has become the world’s pre-eminent hamstring doctor given expertise from decades of work in sports medicine.

Many of Europe’s best soccer players playing as many as three games a week across multiple competitions have been able to quickly resume from hamstring injuries under his care.

Updates

Bomber Francis puts pen to paper

Ben Broad

Essendon swingman Aaron Francis has recommitted to the club.

Francis, who has become a permanent fixture in the Bombers' back half, ended speculation he could be traded by signing for a further three years, tying him to the club until at least the end of 2022.

“I feel I have a tremendous support system around me, from the players to the administration, to assist me in achieving my goals in all aspects of my life,” Francis said.

“I am loving my time at the club and I’m fully committed to working hard on my game so I can increase my impact on the senior side.

“There is an exciting feeling amongst this group and what we can achieve together over the next few seasons, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it.”

Bombers list manager Adrian Dodoro was thrilled to lock away the man he recruited with pick 6 in the 2015 national draft.

“Aaron is an incredibly talented footballer and is an important part of the future of this club,” Dodoro said.

“Over his four years on our list, we have seen him mature into a fine young man, showing he is committed to growing his game at the Bombers.

“His best football is well and truly ahead of him and we look forward to seeing what he can achieve over the next few years of his career.”

GWS: "... most of us are angry"

Ben Broad

REBECCA WILLIAMS reports from GWS training…

Greater Western Sydney is backing its group to stand up in the absence of Toby Greene and Lachie Whitfield, vowing to get come out "angry" in tomorrow's preliminary final against Collingwood.

The suspended Greene joined his teammates for their captain's run at Punt Road Oval on Friday afternoon after an appeal on Thursday night failed to overturn his one-match ban.

Giants assistant coach Matthew Nicks dismissed suggestions the Greene tribunal saga, along with the loss of Whitfield (appendicitis) this week had been a distraction for the playing group ahead of the cut-throat final at the MCG.

"I guess we just have to move on and get the job done this week," Nicks said.

"It is no different for our players, we have had a fantastic week on the track … as far as preparation for a game goes, there is really no difference.

"The boys love Toby, the boys love Lachie. They are really important to the way that we play our footy but guys will step up.

"We've got a number of guys that are chomping at the bit to get out there."

But Nicks said the Giants were ready to come out hard against the Magpies.

"I think most of us are angry, but you've got to be angry if you want to call it angry or on the edge to play finals footy," Nicks said.

"If you don't you get criticised for not being ready, but if you do obviously there is people who are questioning the way that you go about it.

"But we didn't beat the Bulldogs and we didn't beat Brisbane by going out there and playing soft footy, I thought our guys went hard for the ball and the contest.

"We only get those wins by going out there and playing tough footy."

Former Magpie Lachlan Keeffe has come into the side for Greene and Nicks backed he versatility to shine for the Giants.

"Lachie is rock solid … you are talking about a player that can come in and play any role for us, he is versatile, he can play forward, he can play back he can pinch hit in the ruck if need be," he said.

"So depending on what the conditions are, we will back Lachie Keefe into play a certain role for us and that may change.

"We can shuffle him around a little bit and it won't effect his game. he will stand up for us, whether he starts forward or back we will just have to wait and see."

Giants will continue the biff

Ben Broad

TIM MICHELL reports…

GWS coach Leon Cameron says the Giants will not curb their aggressive approach in Saturday’s preliminary final in the wake of Toby Greene’s suspension.

Greene last night lost his appeal of a one-match ban for making contact with Lachie Neale’s face, leaving GWS without four of its biggest stars.

Injured trio Callan Ward, Stephen Coniglio and Lachie Whitfield will also be on the sidelines at the MCG as the Giants vie for their maiden grand final berth.

Greene has faced the tribunal three times in the past two weeks after being cited for an incident involving Marcus Bontempelli in GWS’ elimination final victory.

"We are playing a really good, aggressive brand of footy, particularly in the last two or three weeks,” Cameron said on AFL 360.

“We will continue to look to do that on Saturday against Collingwood.”

Cameron said he hoped the accumulative effect of Greene being hauled before the tribunal in consecutive weeks did not weigh against him.

“I hope the people that have sat in and looked at the case, whether that's the tribunal or the appeal's board today, they look at it on its merits,” he said.

“Hopefully that's been done. As I've said, we're disappointed he's not playing.

“I'm not going to elaborate on that any further because in 48 hours we've got a game.”

Ex-Magpie Lachlan Keeffe has replaced Greene in the Giants’ team, while Ian Hill has been re-called in place of Whitfield.

"We thought we put together a couple of good cases during the week and it's disappointing, clearly, (that Greene’s) not going to play on Saturday," Cameron said.

"That's the most important thing. But we move on. We had plan A, obviously, for Toby playing and plan B for him not to play.

"Our guys have been prepared and our team have been prepared for that in the last 24 hours. We move to plan B."

TRADE WRAP: Could Shaw join a third club?

Ben Broad

LATEST TRADE WRAP from Jon Ralph and Jay Clark

Heath Shaw has rival interest as GWS considers his future at the Giants.

The Pies premiership defender has said he would retire if GWS won the flag but if not he is keen to go on and the Giants want to keep him.

He turns 34 in November but still has his pace and continues to take the best small forward in opposition teams.

Plus news on Jamie Elliott, Sam Jacobs, Brodie Grundy, Hugh Greenwood and Chris Masten.

FULL STORY HERE.

JUST IN: Sam Jacobs has walked out on Adelaide with the free agent hoping to extend his career at a third AFL club.

Jacobs, the former Blue who went on to become one of the game's best ruckman during 184 games at the Crows, said he loved his time at Adelaide but had made the call to look elsewhere as the 31-year-old looks to continue his career at the top level.

“After a couple of weeks of really open discussions with the club, I have decided it would be best for my family and career to exercise my free agent options," he said.

“I do this with a heavy heart as I love the club, it was an extremely difficult decision to make.”

Jacobs has played 201 career matches.

Sam Jacobs to leave Adelaide

JUST IN: Sam Jacobs has walked out on Adelaide with the free agent hoping to extend his career at a third AFL club.

“After a couple of weeks of really open discussions with the club, I have decided it would be best for my family and career to exercise my free agent options," he said.

“I do this with a heavy heart as I love the club, it was an extremely difficult decision to make.”

Jacobs has played 201 career matches.

SCOTT GULLAN reports…

Long-time Brownlow Medal host Bruce McAvaney will keep his own running tally of votes when he watches next Monday’s count on his couch back in Adelaide.

For the first time since 1990, McAvaney won’t control proceedings at football’s night of nights for Channel 7 after deciding to hand over the baton to Hamish McLachlan.

McAvaney, who has hosted footy's night of nights 21 times, knows it will be tough to watch but is confident by Monday he’ll have his “head around” the fact he’s not there.

“I’m in Melbourne on Monday doing something else, I have to do a shoot for racing.com,” McAvaney told The Late Show on RSN 927.

“Then I will go home Monday afternoon. It’s going to be a bit weird, I know that and I’m still getting my head around it. I think what I’m going to do, I’m going to get a sheet of paper and write down the 10 favourites, then write down rounds 1 to 23 and score the night. I’m a bit of a weird guy.”

The broadcasting legend knows there will be times over the next few days when he questions his decision to relinquish the role.

“Of course I’m going to miss it … there is going to be a bit of me thinking, ‘Oh wow, you’ve given up a lot of things’,” McAvaney said.

“I’m looking forward to it but I know there will be a bit of me longing for the days that I was there. But I know I have made the right decision and Hamish is going to do a superb job.”

Before they were stars in their own right they were fans – just like the rest of us.

And Saints legend Nick Riewoldt has revealed that was reinforced recently when Richmond young gun Jack Higgins sent him a text message showing the then 10-year-old St Kilda fan wildly celebrating during the 2009 preliminary final.

Anyone enjoy Nick Riewoldt's classic Prelim mark as much as Jack Higgins did? Can you spot him? 👀
📰 https://t.co/FkGqIrUIq5 pic.twitter.com/bQ9C0zQw06
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) September 20, 2019

Higgins, the Tigers star sidelined after suffering bleeding on the brain this year, was a Saints fan growing up and was ecstatic when Riewoldt marked in the final term of the 2009 grand final qualifier against the Western Bulldogs.

After Riewoldt marks, a fresh-faced Higgins can be seen

“It must have been on TV recently,” Riewoldt told SEN this week.

“Jack Higgins sent me a message with a clip of that goal in the last quarter and the camera flashes to a young St Kilda kid going nuts in the crowd and it was Jack Higgins!”

SPOTTED! 10-year-old Jack Higgins at the 2009 prelim

Ben Broad

Before they were stars in their own right they were fans – just like the rest of us.

Anyone enjoy Nick Riewoldt's classic Prelim mark as much as Jack Higgins did? Can you spot him? 👀
📰 https://t.co/FkGqIrUIq5 pic.twitter.com/bQ9C0zQw06
— SuperFooty (AFL) (@superfooty) September 20, 2019

After Riewoldt marks, a fresh-faced Higgins can be seen

“It must have been on TV recently,” Riewoldt told SEN this week.

“Jack Higgins sent me a message with a clip of that goal in the last quarter and the camera flashes to a young St Kilda kid going nuts in the crowd and it was Jack Higgins!”

'Weird' Bruce to miss Brownlow gig

SCOTT GULLAN reports…

Long-time Brownlow Medal host Bruce McAvaney will keep his own running tally of votes when he watches next Monday’s count on his couch back in Adelaide.

For the first time since 1990, McAvaney won’t control proceedings at football’s night of nights for Channel 7 after deciding to hand over the baton to Hamish McLachlan.

McAvaney, who has hosted footy's night of nights 21 times, knows it will be tough to watch but is confident by Monday he’ll have his “head around” the fact he’s not there.

“I’m in Melbourne on Monday doing something else, I have to do a shoot for racing.com,” McAvaney told The Late Show on RSN 927.

The broadcasting legend knows there will be times over the next few days when he questions his decision to relinquish the role.

“Of course I’m going to miss it … there is going to be a bit of me thinking, ‘Oh wow, you’ve given up a lot of things’,” McAvaney said.

“I’m looking forward to it but I know there will be a bit of me longing for the days that I was there. But I know I have made the right decision and Hamish is going to do a superb job.”