Collingwood Football Club is facing an existential crisis over the fate of their emerging superstar, Jordan De Goey. As the club prepares for the upcoming season, discussions have emerged around potential trades, notably fueled by Kane Cornes’ assertions that the team should consider moving De Goey to rejuvenate their roster.
Just as an FYI, De Goey will be 30 by Round 1. He’s had a rough few years, having played in just 24 games the last two seasons. He has produced a few eye-catching performances this season, even going beyond 20 disposals in a game on two occasions. Yet, troubling questions remain regarding his conditioning and ability to perform at a high level. Cornes openly criticized De Goey, stating, “I think De Goey’s body is a real issue and I think that you’d get a bigger price for Jordan De Goey, and then you can take that pick, go to the draft, and start to get some young talent in.”
Cornes’ comments highlighted the reality that Collingwood has been unable to bring young talent through in recent years. The club has not had significant access to draft picks over the past seven years and recently parted ways with their pick No.7. On the flipside Cornes is the first to point out an obvious absence of youth in the side. He believes trading De Goey would be a great opportunity to blood the squad with more emerging talent. He expressed concern over the club’s current state, saying, “They’re in a world of hurt with a lack of young players coming through.”
Having sorted through these issues, Cornes offers a courageous and radical proposal. He called on Collingwood to trade for Ed Allan, the superstar who just won the club’s best and fairest. Of all of them, he was most keen on De Goey being the man to refresh the list. If that’s the case, then it really is worth a look! “I mean, Ed Allan won their best player, like, please,” he remarked.
In contrast, Liam Pickering had supported De Goey’s place on the team. As a high-scoring match-winner, Johnson was further defended by the observation of his finals games record; “I wouldn’t be shopping Jordan De Goey at any stage,” Pickering stated, highlighting De Goey’s experience and contributions to the club.
It’s here that comparisons between De Goey and other players in the league get confusing. For example, Clayton Oliver is a full year younger than De Goey. Three years ago, St Kilda were the ones in for De Goey. These days, Pickering is unsure the Saints have the necessary assets to make such a trade.
As Collingwood steers through these stormy seas, it’s anybody’s guess what the future holds on Jordan De Goey. Analysts and insiders are sharply divided though, leaving little doubt that difficult choices await the club. They need to address short-term performance goals with limited dollars and think sustainably over the long run.
