360 View: Why Jordan De Goey can be Collingwood’s ultimate centre bounce wildcard

Jordan De Goey has quickly developed into Collingwood’s ultimate midfield wildcard, thrown into the centre square with great effect in the second half of games this season. 360 VIEW

Jordan De Goey is relishing extra midfield minutes as an impact player this year. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

Nathan Buckley is quickly developing Jordan De Goey into Collingwood’s ultimate shock weapon.

In a midfield stacked with talent, Buckley has the luxury of waiting until he desperately needs De Goey until unleashing him as a midfield beast.

Last year on Anzac Day he tore Essendon apart as a rampaging midfielder in the contest that announced him as a potential AFL superstar.

But this year Buckley has him tucked away marked: Break Glass in Case of Emergency.

De Goey has kicked 14.8 this year playing mostly as the deepest forward, kicking Collingwood’s first goal of the game in the past three weeks.

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He hasn’t attended a single centre square bounce in the first half of the first five games.

Every one of his 21 centre square involvements has come after half time and his impact has been profound.

Collingwood has won the clearance 57 per cent of the time he has been in the centre bounce — clearly the No. 1 at the Pies.

Jordan De Goey is relishing extra midfield minutes as an impact player this year. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

They have lost it only 24 per cent when De Goey struts his stuff in those 21 involvements, again clearly the lowest at the Pies.

They win it 52 per cent of the time when Adam Treloar is in the guts, with Taylor Adams the third-highest ranked Pie (49 per cent).

In a dour low-scoring Round 4 clash against the Dogs, he played midfield in the second half and helped turn the game with 14 disposals, three clearances, 199 metres gained and five score involvements.

Buckley knows it is a blessing to be able to mix and match by using De Goey in multiple positions given Jaidyn Stephenson and Jamie Elliott can slot in as the deepest forward.

Jordan De Goey tries to burst out of midfield against Western Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein.

“It’s going to change depending on the balance of our squad and the form of our players. We think he’s looking pretty good forward of the ball,” he said.

“At the moment we think we have got the balance right and Jordy looks like he’s enjoying his footy and he’s up and about and more importantly playing balanced football and sharing the load.

“If we need a bit of grunt inside we know we have got him there to go to. If we need firepower he can help us there.

“We like to think all of our players have got the capacity to play more than one role.

“But when you have got a guy who plays two roles particularly well the questions will come.”