Pies put De Goey on ice
Collingwood forward out of Hawks clash
COLLINGWOOD has decided not to play Jordan De Goey on Friday despite AFL permission to take on Hawthorn in Sydney.
The Pies have confirmed De Goey and Steele Sidebottom will meet up with the Pies after Friday night’s clash at Giants Stadium.
De Goey could have cleared AFL protocols by having two negative COVID-19 tests in coming days then flying to Sydney late in the week to play.
But the Pies have decided that given De Goey would have missed training sessions while remaining in Melbourne he will be unavailable for the crunch game after a pair of Collingwood losses.
De Goey was on Saturday charged with indecent assault after an alleged incident in Kew in 2015 involving a woman known to him.
The AFL has said De Goey would have been available to rejoin the Collingwood football program had he passed those tests.
Despite calls for the AFL to stand down De Goey until he faces those charges in October, he has been handed the presumption of innocence by the AFL.
The league is aware of the details of his charges, having had its integrity team investigate the allegations when they initially emerged.
De Goey sent a letter of apology to the woman involved and underwent a respect and responsibility program.
The league has the power to stand down players, with Stephen Milne barred from playing temporarily while he faced charges, but has mostly allowed players the presumption of innocence.
The AFL allowed Majak Daw to continue playing despite rape charges. The North Melbourne defender was later found not guilty on all counts.
The Pies have endured a torrid nine days including losses to the Giants and Essendon and enduring a likely seasonending injury to Jeremy Howe.
Steele Sidebottom’s fourweek suspension for a COVID breach means the Pies will only be able to select him in Round 9 but he will stay with the club in its Perth hub for a fortnight while training.
De Goey will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on October 30.