The latest on the Collingwood star Jordan De Goey’s court hearing and return to training

As Jordan De Goey’s Collingwood future hangs in the balance, he has been thrown a lifeline by an unlikely source. Here’s how a group of local players reacted when he turned up at training.

Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey has made a surprise return to the training track.

Jordan De Goey will remain stood down from Collingwood as the club awaits further development from the star’s now adjourned US court case.

The Magpies stopped the 25-year-old from training with the club indefinitely after he was charged with harassment and assault in New York in November.

On Thursday morning, De Goey appeared via Zoom for his court hearing and it was adjourned until next year ahead of a final decision on January 18.

He has previously pleaded not guilty.

In a statement on Thursday, Collingwood said it continued to assess the course of the case against De Goey, whom Magpies officials met with earlier this week and who trained with Geelong Football League club Leopold on Wednesday night.

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Collingwood was now “awaiting meaningful developments that will allow for a more complete review of the facts”.

“Until that time Jordan will remain stood down,” the statement said.

“He will continue to be paid in full while stood down and receive welfare support services through the club.”

Jordan De Goey, left, training with Leopold Football Club. Picture: K rock football

De Goey’s session with Leopold was arranged through its coach – Geelong great and ex-Collingwood assistant Garry ‘Buddha’ Hocking.

Leopold president Richard Hockley said Hocking asked the club on Sunday if it could help De Goey train, having been worried about his mental health and how he was going.

“I wasn’t expecting it, that’s for sure,” Hockley told News Corp.

“No one ever wants any negative publicity around your club but we were able to help Jordan out.

“There was genuine excitement amongst our playing group to have someone of Jordan’s calibre run around on the training track and be very engaging, involve himself in training and give advice and feedback.

“They (the players) thought it was awesome.

“It’s not too often the guys at this level get to mix at the same level as one of the high-profile players in the AFL.”

De Goey with Leopold coach Gary Hocking. Picture: K rock football

Hockley said Hocking, a former Cats captain who joined Leopold as coach in August, was a mentor to De Goey at the Magpies.

“Buddha just reached out to a friend as a friend,” he said.

“Training by himself’s got to be a challenge, carrying the weight of the circumstances he’s got himself in and I don’t condone what he’s been accused of doing.

“Buddha wants to put a bit of fun back in footy for him, just lighten it up.

“He’s just a guy around having a kick, trying to keep fit.”

Hockley is leaving it up to De Goey and Hocking as to whether the star Magpie joins Leopold’s last three sessions before its Christmas break.

“I don’t know where things are with Jordan and Garry, and if it will happen again or not,” he said.

De Goey’s off-season drama happened while in the US training as part of an agreement with Monster Energy.

He had initial forcible touching charges dropped in the days after the New York incident and returned to Australia late last month.

Originally published as The latest on the Collingwood star Jordan De Goey’s court hearing and return to training