The St Kilda board are reportedly asking for further information on out-of-contract Pie Jordan De Goey before giving the green light on a potential move this off-season.
The Saints have been strongly linked with De Goey, who will be a free agent at season's end, and appear to be in the box seat to secure his signature should he depart the AIA Centre.
However, the club's board have yet to formally agree to a pursuit of the star 26-year-old, as they seek further information surrounding his fit within the club's playing list, The Ageย has reported.
A meeting between the St Kilda board reportedly took place last week, with the club wanting to be confident that he is the right fit at the Saints both on and off the field.
The Age has reported that sources close to the club revealed the Saints want to be certain that De Goey fits the "whole picture", which includes the team's leadership and values.
The board also sought an assessment of the club's list and De Goey's talents and character to convince them that the former top 10 pick could help the Saints push for a premiership.
Throughout his career at the Magpies, De Goey's off-field antics have been regularly scrutinised - with his most recent incident coming in June when footage of De Goey at a Bali nightclub emerged.
Subsequently, Collingwood pulled a two-year deal for the forward-turned-midfielder off the table, leaving his future in the black and white up in the air.
Both St Kilda coach Brett Ratten and chief operating officer and football boss Simon Lethlean have confirmed the Saints' interest in De Goey. It has been previously reported that Geelong is also interested, but is actively showing interest in other options including Giants midfield trio Jacob Hopper, Tanner Bruhn and Tim Taranto, which could put St Kilda at the front of the pack for De Goey.
However, Saints legend Nick Riewoldt has questioned whether the leaders at St Kilda would be able to have tough conversations with a controversial figure such as De Goey, believing the Cats have the leaders to do so.
"If I'm Geelong and Jordan De Goey walked through the door, then Joel Selwood, Tom Hawkins, Patrick Dangerfield, they grab him and they say 'you're gonna do it the Geelong way'," Riewoldt said onย Fox Footy.ย
"Who's having that conversation if Jordan goes to St Kilda?"
Collingwood reportedly says that De Goey wishes to remain a Magpie beyond 2022, but given his previous string of off-field incidents and the media debacle that follows, the decision is not simply made by the Magpies' coaches and football department.
De Goey has played 132 games for Collingwood since being drafted with the fifth pick at the 2014 National Draft, becoming one of the game's most talented midfield/forwards.
In 2022, the 26-year-old has featured in 14 of the club's 19 games this season, averaging 20.9 disposals, 4.6 clearances and a goal a game, as Collingwood look to secure a spot in the top four amid a run of 10 consecutive wins.
