De Goey injury opens door for impressive Pie

FREE agent Jordan De Goey’s lack of durability was exposed again on Friday by a likely three-week quad strain that will allow the Pies to expose a self-described “podgy” full forward.

De Goey’s injury has paved the way for the Pies to hand a debut to mid-season selection Josh Carmichael, a 191cm midfielder who was playing country football with Merbein this time last year.

Pies recruiter Derek Hine said that the former table tennis and basketball star Carmichael had played only a dozen or so elite football games but had impressed at every level.

De Goey felt quad tightness on the training track on Thursday and the Pies confirmed he would miss two to three games with his latest injury.

Collingwood has postponed talks with De Goey on his contract while clubs including St Kilda do their due diligence on the rampaging mid-forward.

But they will have to factor into their research the reality De Goey has never been a player who strings together long streaks of football.

Discounting this year he has played 20 or more games in only two of seven seasons and has averaged only 16 games in those seasons given injuries and internal suspensions.

De Goey will miss games against North Melbourne and Adelaide and likely against Essendon given the Pies will be unlikely to risk him after only two games.

Back-up defender Jack Magden has broken his thumb and will miss six weeks, but the Pies will hope next week’s return of Darcy Moore will give them enough defensive cover.

Carmichael, 21, was playing in the Sunraysia league for Merbein, just north of Mildura, until finally moving to the SANFL last year for West Adelaide.