Trade talk for Pies wildcard

COLLINGWOOD will have to consider trading Jordan De Goey at year’s end given his “pre-agency” status, according to one of footy’s most accomplished list builders.

Hawthorn and St Kilda list manager Chris Pelchen said yesterday the Pies would be “fearful” De Goey (below) could walk as a free agent at the end of 2022 for a late firstround pick.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley defended De Goey’s output in the same week AFL legend Leigh Matthews said he was not fit to be mentioned in the same conversation as Dustin Martin.

Collingwood’s biggest issue over De Goey, signed last year on a two-season deal of about $1.5m, is it loses control over his destiny by the end of next year.

De Goey is a wildcard in the contract space because he has always been willing to shop himself to rivals, including Carlton last year, and does not have a player manager.

The Pies would have to believe they could secure multiple early picks or a firstrounder and an established player.

But Pelchen said on Friday that, given De Goey’s diminishing returns, the Pies would need to consider if they fielded offers for a player with only one top-10 Copeland Trophy finish.

“With De Goey, his free agency would certainly be at the front of their discussions in list management in the next six months,” Pelchen said.

“It’s better to control the compensation with a trade you can accept or decline than wait for free agency to dictate it to you.

“With a player like De Goey you would only get one standalone pick under free agency so you might think about the opportunity to trade him for multiple picks.”