Collingwood indefinitely suspend Jordan De Goey after being caught drink driving
COLLINGWOOD has indefinitely suspended Jordan De Goey and placed a number of strict rules on the young gun in a bid to change his behaviour as captain Scott Pendlebury reveals his teammate is “shattered”. See De Goey training with the VFL side here.
Collingwood
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COLLINGWOOD midfielder Jordan De Goey has pledged to give up the booze and his mates to save his AFL career after being indefinitely suspended by the club for drink driving.
Magpies chiefs came down hard on the 21-year-old on Monday, also slapping him with a $10,000 fine for blowing 0.095 at a random breath test at Beaconsfield Parade in Port Melbourne at 8.25pm on Saturday night.
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De Goey did not train with his teammates on Monday morning as he faced the music — including club bosses and the player leadership group — and will now train with the VFL squad after hours for four weeks.
During that time he will be required to “undertake employment away from the club”.
The former No.5 draft pick will not be available for selection until he has “convinced his peers and coaches that meaningful change has occurred, and that his standards have risen to those of the group.”
His in-season drinking ban will be reviewed at the end of 2018.
Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury said he first spoke to a “shattered” De Goey, who was remorseful for his actions, on Sunday night.
“He was shattered, like anyone that’s probably offended with drink driving, they’re shattered not only about the affect on the club but something serious could happen from drink driving,” Pendlebury said.
“I think it’s bigger than he might just miss an AFL game. You could seriously hurt someone.
“We clearly know what he can do on a football field but off it is where he needs to improve and now we support him to try and get better in that regard.”
Asked if he bought into comments from club great Tony Shaw that De Goey was part of a winder discipline problem at the club, Pendlebury replied, “No I don’t”.
Magpies football boss Geoff Walsh says De Goey’s behaviour must change.
“Jordan can have a long career with Collingwood if he commits himself wholly to his football but he could also have a very short career if he doesn’t,” Walsh said.
“The club, and particularly his teammates, want to see behavioural change. They need to be able to trust him and believe in him.
“Jordan can win back the faith he has lost over a period of time and have a very good career if he honours all that he has agreed to today. He is telling us he wants to change. The time for talking is over.”
De Goey’s licence was immediately suspended on Saturday night and he was disqualified from driving for six months.
De Goey, who falls out of contract at the end of the year, went surfing with mates in Torquay on Saturday before failing the random breath test.
As a P-plate driver he is required to have no alcohol in his system and he has been disqualified from driving for six months.
The AFL Players Association on Monday night said it had no issue with the suite of penalties, noting the fine was in the player rules.
“It’s important to note that other elements of the outcome have been agreed between Jordan and the club, some of which were volunteered by the player,” PA chief Paul Marsh said.
“Whilst the AFLPA’s view on disciplinary matters of this nature is that all parties should seek long-term positive behavioural change as the desired outcome, they all have their own unique circumstances and in this case Jordan and the Collingwood Football Club believe the agreed approach will give him the best chance of moving forward with his career.
“The AFLPA will support Jordan through his suspension and into the future.”
The incident comes a year after De Goey was suspended for three games for lying to the club after claiming a broken hand suffered in a bar fight in St Kilda was the result of a freak accident while playing with his dog.
He was also fined $5000 and handed 10 weeks of community service.
The former No.5 draft pick missed the first three matches of the 2017 season while he recovered from the injury and then served his club-imposed ban.
THE JORDAN DE GOEY PENALTY
— An indefinite suspension from AFL selection. When Jordan has convinced his peers and coaches that meaningful change has occurred, and that his standards have risen to those of the group, he will become available for selection.
— A fine of $10,000. Jordan has also offered to make a further $10,000 donation to a charity, a gesture the club acknowledges and supports.
— Jordan will be required to undertake employment away from the club for a period of not less than four weeks. During this time he will train in the evenings with the Collingwood VFL squad.
— Jordan will take on a meaningful role with a charitable organisation, a position that will be monitored by the club.
— Jordan will not drink alcohol at least until the season’s end, when this decision will be reviewed.
— Jordan has made a commitment to enlist the assistance of medical professionals to help him improve his decision making.
— Jordan has agreed to make significant changes to his social life and associations, a pledge the club supports and will monitor.
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