Collingwood star Jordan De Goey has issued his first public statement since being arrested in America last week.
The Magpies midfielder was stood down by the club as news filtered through regarding an incident at a Manhattan bar where he and a friend allegedly groped a woman and then attacked her friend when he intervened.
It emerged earlier this week that prosecutors had decided against pursuing any charges in relation to a 35-year-old female.
But De Goey, 25, will still have to appear in court next month after being charged with the assault and harassment of a 37-year-old man. He has pleaded not guilty.
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“Mr De Goey intends to vigorously defend himself against these unwarranted charges, despite the original media reports otherwise,” De Goey’s statement reads.
“Mr De Goey has not been charged with forcible touching or any other sexual-assault crimes against a woman.
“There are no current restrictions on his travel, and he plans on using the next few months to continue preparing for the upcoming AFL season.”
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Collingwood said in their own statement last week that the club was “deeply disappointed” by the events that allegedly took place.
De Goey has 12 months remaining on his estimated $750,000-per-year contract with Collingwood, with this misbehaviour prompting AFL great Kane Cornes to suggest that De Goey had thrown millions away, while branding it “about the most embarrassing thing I can remember”.
De Goey recently had a previous indecent assault charge withdrawn, in relation to a 2015 allegation involving a woman in suburban Melbourne.
Victoria Police was ordered to pay his legal costs.