De Goey to return to Australia ‘this month’: McRae
Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey is expected to fly back to Australia within weeks, ahead of his court case in New York on assault charges.
De Goey, who has been stood down indefinitely by the club after being charged over a nightclub altercation in New York, will return to Australia “this month”, new coach Craig McRae said on Monday.
Jordan De Goey pictured outside of a New York court last month. Credit:Nine News
McRae said the club had been in constant contact with De Goey to offer him help and support, but would not say anything further on the talented midfield-forward’s future at the club.
De Goey’s case is due to be heard in a New York court on December 8.
New Collingwood senior coach Craig McRae.Credit:AFL Photos
“Time will tell (on De Goey returning to the playing group),” McRae said of his player, who has been stood down indefinitely on full pay.
For now, that has meant nothing has substantially changed for the player who has been on holidays. But with De Goey returning to the Australia within weeks, the question will arise of when, or if, he can resume training at the club or with his teammates.
“There’s a bit to play out,” McRae said. “I think it’s a little bit premature to say whether he will be back here training and the like, but one thing I will say is that we have just been touching base with Jordy regularly just to make sure he’s OK.
“Over my journey working with some great coaches I’ve learned that you just want to make sure the person is OK and care for this person in particular first.
“[What] I’ve probably learned over this period in particular is just be patient and let the facts come before you pass judgment. And so, again, I’ll just let that take its own course. I am just more concerned for Jordy’s wellbeing.
“He’s training hard over there now and he’s coming to terms with everything, but I won’t go into full detail of everything we spoke about.
Jack Madgen on a gut-busting run on his return to training at the Magpies.Credit:AFL Photos
“Is he welcome here? Well, I think at the moment I’m making sure that when the opportunity presents, if it presents, that Jordy will feel that he was well-supported. I want all our players, not just Jordy, to feel that I have got their back and show the love and support where its needed.
“I think he is planning to come back later this month. I don’t know exact details around that. I think he’s planning to get back as soon as he can.”
McRae reaffirmed he meant returning in November, which is ahead of De Goey’s court date.
McRae was speaking after the return of first to four year-players to training. Will Kelly led the group in an unscheduled two-kilometre time trial at the end of training, with Finn Macrae, Nathan Murphy, and Tyler Brown in the lead group and Reef McInnes also running well.
“There’s going to be some patience needed watching today. Some of the drills we’re doing we’ve got some work to do around certain elements, but we’re gonna start somewhere,” McRae said.
“We’re going to have to get the work around bringing them up to school in a game plan. We’ve got a whole new game plan we’re going to implement, so some patience will be needed.
Former Carlton coach Brendon Bolton has started life as an assistant coach with the arch-enemy, Collingwood.Credit:AFL Photos
“I was in the office six or seven weeks and they were all in, whether it was COVID causing it – they didn’t have much to do – but they’re all in trying to get better, trying to get stronger and fitter every day.
“I actually could see that physical change in that six-week period – you can see strength put on with Finn Macrae, Reef McInnes and those guys in particular really stood out. Will Kelly really stood out today, [he] looked big and strong and injury-free, so yeah I can see a physical change in six or seven weeks.”
Captain Scott Pendlebury, Jordan Roughead, and Mason Cox were among the older players who were not required to be back yet, but trained with the young players regardless.
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