Collingwood star Brodie Grundy has endorsed the club’s decision to stand down Jordan De Goey, saying his teammate’s alleged behaviour overseas is unacceptable.
De Goey is currently unable to join Grundy and the rest of his teammates in their pre-season training due to being stood down by Collingwood after he was charged with assault over an incident in New York in October.
The 25-year-old is now back on Australian soil and has been training with Leopold, a local team in the Geelong Football League, while being coached by Cats great and ex-Magpies assistant coach Garry Hocking. Despite being stood down, De Goey continues to be paid in full by Collingwood.
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Grundy, who is part of a seven-man leadership group at Collingwood, suggested De Goey’s behaviour was hurting the new culture that the Magpies are trying to build in the wake of the Do Better Report.
“We have gone through a lot as a football club over the last 18 months, two years. We are working really hard to make this club something that we are proud of,” Grundy said on Monday.
“That alleged behaviour is something that we can’t stand for so until that plays out – that is something we know more about – Jordan will be spending time away.
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“Until things play out, I am just supporting what the club is putting in place. Jordan is entering his eighth season now, he is a professional, I think he’ll be a big enough boy training away from the group and that is going to play out in the next five to six weeks.”
Despite backing the club’s stance, Grundy said he’d remained in contact with De Goey and expressed some sympathy towards his troubled teammate.
“Actions are one side of it, there is the human side as well. You do empathise with him being overseas, by himself at that point (De Goey’s friend Luke Dyson was also present in New York and charged), you do think it would be scary, but, obviously, the alleged behaviour is something we can’t stand for at this football club,” Grundy said.
“But, having said that, Jordan is still a Collingwood player and we support him. Like I said, we reached out, we have been in constant conservation with him, and [we’re] hoping as a person he is doing the best he can.”
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The 27-year-old said there was no reason why De Goey couldn’t be “upskilled” in the team’s gameplan under new senior coach Craig McRae.
“It’s just going be on him,” Grundy said.
“It’s going to be a challenge for him to be able to keep up his conditioning and to come in, but I am sure, if and when that happens, he will be desperate to put his best foot forward.”