De Goey the sinner may turn into Saint

ST KILDA coach Brett Ratten says he and the club would want to look at “all the evidence” around Jordan De Goey’s off-field indiscretions before ruling out a play for the off-contract Collingwood star.

The Saints were linked heavily to De Goey in the wake of the Magpies pulling a fouryear, $3.2m deal off the table following his behaviour on a mid-season trip to Bali that resulted in the club imposing a suspended $25,000 fine.

While St Kilda officials were adamant no formal offer had been put to De Goey (pictured), who is out of contract at the end of this season and with Collingwood parking talks on a new deal, Ratten said his club would do “homework” on any free agent who was potentially available.

Ratten was conscious any new player would have to fit in with the “culture” he and the coaching staff were trying to develop at St Kilda.

“We’d have to do our homework and have a look at exactly what has happened and taking all the evidence as you do when you bring in any player, especially opponents from another club,” Ratten said on Wednesday.

“You’re looking at the onfield performance, and you’re looking at what you’re trying to build as a football club and culture and that as well.

“We do assess everything they do, on and off the field.”

Ratten deferred any potential decision to the club’s list manager, James Gallagher, but confirmed De Goey’s name had been “brought up”.

“Our club looks at all free agents in the competition. He’s one of those, but you know, that’s more of a question for at least management and what we do as a club going forward,” Ratten said.