It's safe to say that Jordan De Goey's AFL career to date has been far from smooth sailing.
De Goey was picked up by Collingwood at Pick 5 in the 2014 Draft yet in his ninth year at the club he is yet to play a full season. De Goey's tenure has been shaped by injury, suspension, arrests, and club-imposed sanctions throughout, with an incident in Bali last year over the club's bye week seems to have kicked De Goey into action to see him finally hit the form he's always been capable of.
Whilst De Goey is currently serving a three-match suspension for a dangerous bump on Elijah Hewett, which he was evidently remorseful for, he was hitting a level of form that saw him enter this year's Brownlow Medal conversation, which he is now no longer eligible for.
De Goey was once a hit-and-miss player, producing a box office match one week and was at times nowhere to be seen the next. However this season he is reliably producing a strong effort every week through newfound consistency.
De Goey set the tone for his playing style this season against Geelong in Round 1, finishing the game with 25 disposals and three goals to earn himself 10 coaches votes and most likely three votes come Brownlow night.
Legends of the game have been singing his praises this year, as he appears to focus on his footy at Collingwood after almost signing with St Kilda at the end of the 2022 season.
"I would say that Jordan De Goey has become what we all hoped he might become one day and that is a rounded, influential, great player," Essendon great Tim Watson toldย SEN
"I remember saying at different times how good he is and there was always this pushback about how he just flashes in and flashes out. He doesn't do that anymore."
"He's now a bona fide superstar of the game."
De Goey himself even recognised that he wasn't putting forward a good image for himself.
"Over time, the perception of me hasn't been great and that's been a lot to do with my wrongdoing I guess,โ he said during an interview withย Fox Footy's On the Couch.
"For me moving forward, it's creating a new path for myself and the people around me and I'm just enjoying my footy and trying to be the best person I can be."
"I think I've showed glimpses โฆ I think everyone will admit that."
A huge part of that move forward has been Collingwood sport psychologist Jacqui Louder, who has worked closely with De Goey over the last few years, and particularly since his ADHD diagnosis.
"Working with Jacquie it's almost like I have a checklist in my head now where I have to tick things off before I can do something," De Goey toldย The Unlaced Podcast.
After signing a reported $3.2 million dollar contract extension with Collingwood at the end of last season, De Goey is looking to repay the club for the faith they've had in him the whole way through his career.
As De Goey works through his final week of suspension, it's a scary prospect for opposition teams as he returns off the back of what is essentially a mini pre-season to be fit and firing.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae has always supported De Goey, and last week compared him to a "dripping tap."
"We all stand here seeing Jordy grow in front of our eyes," McRae said.
"Sometimes when you have a dripping tap it takes a while to form a puddle. He's been a dropping tap for a while now and we are really happy with his growth as a person. We're really proud of him."
Collingwood has one win and one loss since De Goey was suspended, the former being a narrow two-point win over Adelaide at the MCG.
Collingwood are evidently a better team with De Goey, his ability around stoppages and as an attacking player makes it easier for Collingwood to gain clearances and score. Against Melbourne in Round 13, Collingwood were well down on their clearances from stoppage, having only totalled 19 compared to Melbourne's 26, whilst they usually average 27.3.
It was the same story against Adelaide last weekend, with 23 clearances from stoppage for the game compared to Adelaide's 31. Adding to this, Collingwood had 36 clearances to Adelaide's 41. Clearances aren't the strongest part of Collingwood's game, which adds so much value to De Goey's ability to get the ball out of the middle.
McRae will be thankful that De Goey will return against the Western Bulldogs, who are currently averaging the most clearances in the competition.ย Bailey Smith, Caleb Daniel, Jack Macrae, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore and Adam Treloar all sit inside the top 50 players for total clearances this year, and De Goey will be ready to tackle them head-on.
Pies supporters, players, coaches and particularly De Goey himself will no doubt be anticipating his return next week. De Goey performs best on the big stage, and it seems fitting to his story that he returns for the Pies' first Friday night game since Round 3.
Expect big things as he helps the Pies in the run home towards September.
