Collingwood 2022: Experts weigh in on whether it is Jordan De Goey’s last chance
It will be hard to defend Jordan De Goey if he makes another alcohol fuelled mistake, but it shouldn’t be a hard and fast rule, says former teammate Dane Swan.
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We asked several football experts two questions.
1. What position would you play Jordan De Goey?
2. Do you think he should be on his last chance at Collingwood?
Read their answers below.
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Grant Thomas
Former St Kilda coach
1. Midfield/Forward
2. No. The Pies made the wrong call not supporting him, as has been proven. People don’t fail, organisations fail.
Dane Swan
Former teammate
1. Seventy per cent mid and 30 per cent forward. They need to get the ball inside 50 more and they can’t do it with their best player sitting in the goalsquare. One of the few players we have that can break a game open and you would think with a more offensive game plan he will be able to play his natural game and not worry about having too much of a defensive mindset.
2. Unfortunately I think the media have decided this is his last chance. The media I think dictate far too much what goes on at clubs and their decision making with so much external pressure they put on. But obviously he is much closer to his last chance than his first and another alcohol-fuelled f*** up and it’s gonna be hard to defend him. But it shouldn’t be a hard and fast rule of “one more thing and you’re out”.
So the short answer is: Do I think it should be his last chance? It depends on what it is.
Jordan Lewis
Fox Footy commentator
1. I would play him permanent forward and as much as you can make him the deepest forward so he can be isolated with his opponent.
2. There is no doubt he would be on his last chance at Collingwood. And so he should be.
Dermott Brereton
Fox Footy commentator
1. Play as a clearance midfielder that pushes forward two to three times a half.
I’m not convinced that he is an endurance beast.
2. No, because every action and/or so-called indiscretion should be treated on its merits. (Otherwise there will be a long line of people wanting their 15 minutes of fame as the person that goaded Jordan into dismissal).
Mick Malthouse
Coaching great/Sunday Herald Sun columnist
1. He is perfectly made for a midfield role, similar to Dane Swan. Short five or six minute bursts and then bench/forward.
2. He is clearly no genius — but work with him, he will work out OK. He just needs to trust his coach. Treat him as an adult and he may surprise by being an adult.
Matthew Lloyd
3AW commentator
1. I don’t believe that Jordan has the running capacity to be a permanent midfielder, but he has the power, explosiveness and goal sense to play a Jake Stringer-type role, where he is involved in the centre-bounce stoppages and pushes hard forward and becomes a very difficult match up.
2. Yes, one more strike and there is no coming back for Jordan at Collingwood and potentially anywhere else. I just hope he doesn’t waste the unbelievable talent that he has been blessed with.
Jason Akermanis
Brisbane Lions champion
1. Midfield to start then isolate him at full forward. He is strong and quick and would cause a lot of problems for opposition teams.
2. I am sure he won’t have any problems moving forward. While it would be his last chance, he will finish his career from here on out without any further issues.
Comparing De Goey to Dusty is an insult
Not many footy folk would know Ryan Vague, but you had to like how he went into bat this week for his client, Jordan De Goey.
That’s what player managers do, although it was hardly trial by media for De Goey — as Vague claimed — after New York coppers laid some pretty savage charges against the Collingwood forward after a raucous, vodka-swilling night in dressing gowns on Halloween.
The media backed off when the most serious of those charges was dropped. But even then it’s hardly a story to be spiked.
De Goey. Collingwood. New York. Arrested. Again.
Pick your headline, people.
Vague, who is a recent addition to the De Goey camp, spoke superbly on SEN — until he didn’t.
When Vague said De Goey could be the best player in the competition it reminded me of when my uncle Pat used to put his left hand in the air and wave it, drawing your attention, before clipping you across your head with a surprise right-hand slap.
Like, look over here, a distraction to reality.
De Goey, who is 26 in March, is and has been a lot of things.
He’s a drinker, a fighter and a drink driver. He’s been untruthful, he’s faced real and unreal police charges and he’s said sorry countless times — and been forgiven for all of it.
Up until this point in his adult life, he has found trouble on a lot of corners.
He’s either desperately unlucky or his radar for trouble flickers between naivety and stupidity.
On the field, he’s been spasmodically brilliant, which is hardly worthy of being considered the best in the game.
No, the best player in the competition wins Norm Smith medals, wins big finals for his team, plays consistently throughout the season, prepares in the off-season and doesn’t come back with too much summer excess around the bum and guts.
The best player in the competition is a role model and leader for teammates and doesn’t talk about responsibilities and maturity and then spit in everyone’s faces.
Dustin Martin had some challenges early in his career and on that front De Goey can find comparisons.
But to say he could be the No.1 player in the competition, which in Martin’s case was being named best afield in 10 of 12 finals, including winning three Norm Smith medals, is an insult to the very essence of performance from the best players in the game.
De Goey couldn’t carry Dusty’s bag. Nor Buddy’s. Nor the Bont’s. Nor the bags of the father, son and Holy Ghost at Melbourne — Gawn, Oliver and Petracca.
Those players have earned their stripes, while De Goey is still playing on potential eight seasons into his AFL career.
It was a cop out comment from Vague. A bit of hand-waving.
De Goey doesn’t need to hear or be told that. He just needs knuckle down.
He’s 26 and it could be over by 32, and what has he really achieved to date?
That’s not to say he can’t be a dominant player, but the time’s come for action and delivery and not half-assed promises and potential.
The decision by Collingwood to reinstate him was not a surprise, although another major misstep would mean Collingwood’s next decision won’t surprise anyone.
The Pies had to keep him. They couldn’t trade him even if they wanted to because the trade period had come and gone and, let’s be honest, he can play the game.
If he had half his talent, he would’ve been cactus two or three years ago.
To say he owes Collingwood is a gross understatement.
He also owes the new coach, Craig McRae. And his teammates.
They’ve been busting a gut for three months in a period where standards are set and pre-season pain is shared and conquered. It’s called building camaraderie.
He has to earn their faith, and be humble, and be diligent, and not muck up.
Because it wasn’t simply a talent call by Collingwood to bring De Goey back, it was a cultural risk assessment and McRae has his fingers crossed his player won’t jeopardise nor compromise the culture he is building.
One thing people say of McRae is he doesn’t suffer fools.
De Goey is not big on media interviews, nor is the club at granting access, but those who know him well say he is a little naive, a reasonably good bloke and a man who goes with the flow.
But this most recent incident — and the club’s response which some say was too pointed and judgmental — has him walking on egg shells.
If he does venture out socially, he will be baited by the peanut gallery and he needs to ignore it, and a speeding ticket will probably get him front-page coverage.
For his sake, let’s hope his headlines are footy-related.
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