Jordan de Goey stars as Collingwood roll over St Kilda in second half onslaught
NATHAN Buckley joked this week that he was “losing sleep” over who was going to walk Meghan Markle down the aisle. It will be Collingwood’s list manager this week after Jordan de Goey starred in the win over St Kilda.
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NATHAN Buckley joked this week that he was “losing sleep” over who was going to walk Meghan down the aisle.
Sure, he was joking, but Jordan de Goey ensured his coach slept easy on Saturday night.
Keeping hold of him, however, might keep a few Magpies awake into the wee hours after the young gun led Collingwood to a dominant 28-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
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As the world stopped for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to make their commitment to one another, half a world away it became evident that there is only one commitment the Magpies should now look to make.
“De Goey is the most important signing. The most!,” club legend Peter Daicos exclaimed online.
He couldn’t have been more right.
The out-of-contract 22-year-old was royally sublime against St Kilda on Saturday night, producing six goals from just 12 disposals right when Buckley needed it – as Darcy Moore and Jamie Elliott nursed their injured hamstrings and Alex Fasolo an ankle injury incurred early.
It’s a role de Goey told Channel 7 post-game that he is loving, lauding his teammates’ delivery into attack.
The Pies, Buckley said last week, needed “a little bit more information” before they’d commit on a contract.
Sure, there’s off-field things to work through after Buckley admitted there had been “a few dust-ups” in their union.
But on-field alone, do they need any more than stuff like that?
The bloke capable of elite things in the midfield paid his way up forward – a performance that may well have added to his price.
De Goey lit things up every time he went near the ball and worked hard for the benefit of his teammates, too – stuff that’s worthy of huge dollars at the likes of North Melbourne and the Saints, who could do little to curtail him.
“The relationship is getting stronger, he is investing in it more and is being more consistent,” Buckley said on SEN last week.
Jade Gresham in the middle worked for the Saints, and Jack Newnes looked every bit a legitimate forward on his way to four goals. But Tim Membrey’s poor record in front of goal only got worse as he slumped to a 1.10 record from his last 11 shots.
Talks on de Goey are off until at least mid-year – which looms – and there may be a few pre-nuptial style conditions as he continues to rebuild trust.
“I’m feeling good. Feeling comfortable,” he said after the game.
But as one of the hottest players on the market, de Goey can command plenty and will draw big dollars, with the Magpies faithful hopeful that home is where the heart is.
BEST
ST KILDA: S.Ross, L.Dunstan, J.Newnes, J.Steven, J.Steele
COLLINGWOOD: J. de Goey, S.Sidebottom, S.Pendlebury, T.Phillips, A.Treloar
VOTES
3. Jordan De Goey (Coll)
2. Steele Sidebottom (Coll)
1. Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
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