AFL great Kane Cornes has dismissed reports that controversial Collingwood star Jordan De Goey is unhappy with the club over its handling of his recent trip to Bali.
According to SEN and the ABC’s Offsiders, De Goey is annoyed with the Magpies after his mid-season trip overseas became embroiled in scandal.
The update comes a week after the club put all contract negotiations with the talented midfielder-forward on hold, stirring up potential trade talk with rival clubs.
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After requesting personal leave ahead of Collingwood’s 11-point win over GWS on Sunday, it remains unclear when, or if, the 26-year-old will return for the Pies.
Speaking on Nine’s Footy Classified, Cornes doubted De Goey would place blame on the club for the media firestorm which eventuated as a consequence of his behaviour.
“I could not believe there is any way Jordan De Goey couldn’t be happy with Collingwood. It is the other way around,” Cornes said, referring to a leaked video of De Goey partying and pulling down a woman’s top.
“Furthermore how he hasn’t been back to the club, how he’s not doing extra sessions, how he’s not in the changerooms or at the game [on Sunday], I just don’t know if it means enough to him.
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“It feels like it’s over [between De Goey and Collingwood].
“But how he could feel any angst towards that, and he needs to repair a lot of the damage that’s been done, and that starts on the training track and winning the respect back of your teammates.”
Footy Classified host Craig Hutchison interrupted to add that sometimes when all is said and done, it can be difficult to take back.
“It is,” Cornes said, “but you have to start somewhere”.
“And sitting at home sulking about the way the club has handled it when it’s 99 per cent on him, is not the right way to go about it.”
It is uncertain whether De Goey will be back to face the Suns in Collingwood’s round 16 match-up, adding to speculation about his new deal.
“No one at Collingwood can tell me if Jordan De Goey will be at training, or be at a light training session,” journalist Caroline Wilson said.
“No one at the club can tell me whether he’s going to present and present to play against the Gold Coast later on this week and I’m still not absolutely sure that coach Craig McRae has spoken to Jordan De Goey.”
AFL great Matthew Lloyd added; “That’s where he needs good people around him because you’d be saying, ‘Jordan, whether you want to be at Collingwood or you want to be somewhere else, your next two months are going to determine what your price is going to be'”.
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