Young gun ready to repay faith
COLLINGWOOD young gun Jordan De Goey feels ready to reap the ultimate AFL reward, having implemented a booze ban and made several changes to turn his life around after a drink-driving conviction.
De Goey’s career was at the crossroads earlier this year, when he was essentially put on his final warning by the Magpies and copped a series of club-imposed punishments.
The 22-year-old has been on the wagon since and signed a contract extension in July.
The forward has hit careerbest form at the pointy end of the season, booting a combined nine goals during this finals series, and will be one of Collingwood’s most potent threats today.
“I’ve been off the booze the whole year. It hasn’t been too bad for me, I just keep myself out of situations where it could potentially happen,” he said on the eve of the Grand Final.
“It’s hard when a few different things happen but you have to keep positive and keep striving for success.
“I’ve made a few changes in my life that have helped me.
“Just probably my attitude towards training and preparation, I’ve fixed a few things and become more professional in other areas. It’s paying dividends . it’s a matter of continuing it for the rest of my career.”
Collingwood was stuck in the difficult position of trying to give De Goey both a clip and a cuddle after the pre-season indiscretion, wanting to ensure his immense talent wasn’t wasted.
Magpies coach Nathan Buckley called Steve Johnson
24 79 190cm 83kg Cool-headed backman who plans to travel to Africa and South America post-season.
31 164 193cm 93kg Veteran defender who was dropped for the 2010 Grand Final before being recalled for the replay.
30 276 191cm 91kg The Magpies’ Mr Reliable. Has polled 15 or more Brownlow votes for the past nine years.
25 15 192cm 94kg Revelation since his Round 11 debut. Played in a VFL premiership for Port Melbourne last year.
27 43 211cm 108kg Former basketballer from Texas via Oklahoma State University who has kicked 23 goals from 23 games.
25 119 181cm 83kg Reliable midfielder who was one of the most vocal players in support of Nathan Buckley last year.
20 11 191cm 88kg Big-bodied midfielder’s debut was in Round 15. Has been compared to Sydney’s Josh Kennedy.
29 195 188cm 84kg Ex- Fremantle forward and 2013 Grand Final player who has morphed into a tough onballer. for advice. Buckley wanted to know why and how the penny dropped for Johnson, who drunkenly injured himself climbing over a fence before the 2007 season.
Johnson, now an assistant coach at Sydney, went on to win three premierships with Geelong in a decorated 293game career.
“He said the most significant thing was the fact that his teammates were the ones that had taken the lead,” Buckley recalled earlier this year.
The Magpies made it clear De Goey’s behaviour and so-
24 109 190cm 91kg Continues to thrive since arriving from Brisbane as part of the Dayne Beams trade.
30 204 180cm 83kg Speedy forward who won two flags at Geelong, one against Collingwood in 2011.
22 49 187cm 79kg Versatile left-footer who has become the Pies’ time-trial king in the past three years.
22 70 187cm 83kg Dynamic 45-goal forward who has been on a self-imposed, season-long alcohol ban.
19 25 188cm 77kg Livewire forward who won the Rising Star this year and eats close to 100 Weet-Bix a week.
27 210 184cm 86kg Classy onballer who was runner-up in 2018 Brownlow and second in 2010 Norm Smith Medal.
22 67 183cm 80kg A No.7 draft pick for Brisbane who played in back-to-back SANFL flags in 2012-13.
29 134 181cm 87kg Ex-Roo who has made his name as a stopper and is close mates with Dustin Martin. cial habits were unacceptable, forcing him to train with their VFL side until he convinced “his peers and coaches that meaningful change has occurred”.
De Goey ticked that box and returned in Round 4 of the AFL season.
Now he is in the mix to collect a premiership and Norm Smith Medal, the same reward that Johnson enjoyed in 2007 with the Cats.
“I love the big stage … it’s going to be pretty intense, as all finals are, so it should be exciting,” De Goey said.