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The barnstorming AFL form of Jordan De Goey has his manager bullish about a new contract, despite the Collingwood star’s off-field indiscretions.
Ben Niall also has not ruled out a big offer from a rival club.
De Goey, 22, starred in the Queen’s Birthday win over Melbourne and has been one of the main factors in Collingwood’s climb into the top eight.
It is in stark contrast to the start of the season, when he served a club suspension for drink driving and then suffered a hamstring injury that delayed his comeback until round four.
De Goey also was in trouble early last year for lying to the Magpies after he broke his hand in a bar brawl, initially blaming the injury on an accident while playing with his dog.
After the drink driving episode, Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh famously said De Goey could have a long career at the club, or a very short one.
Given De Goey’s on-field form, Niall is optimistic about what is to come.
De Goey is out of contract at the end of the season and negotiations were put off until mid-year because of the drink driving incident.
Niall said those talks would start in the next fortnight and said interest was also high from rival clubs.
“Obviously, my phone’s been ringing all year. I’m getting texts during games (from rival teams),” Niall told SEN.
“If he can stay, then obviously we would like to be able to facilitate that.
“But if he gets a godfather offer, then what do you do?
“We’re in that sort of situation that we’re not looking to leave.”
De Goey, the No.5 pick in the 2014 draft, has showcased his rich AFL potential in the last few weeks.
“I’ve got a better idea (of De Goey’s market value) than I did six weeks ago,” Niall said.
Niall doubts De Goey’s off-field incidents would dent the value of the player’s next contract and is proud of what he has done in the last few months.
“I don’t think there’s a discount for ‘bad behaviour’, in inverted commas,” Niall said.
“I would say that’s more about what is the typical price to stay and what is the premium with which it becomes more difficult to stay,.
“What’s happening on the field is a reflection of a lot of personal growth and development as a young man who’s becoming more self-aware and growing up and in the spotlight.
“He had a pretty tough moment earlier in the year. We all muck up every now and then.”
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