Jordan De Goey’s manager says the star Magpie won’t be held to standards beyond any other AFL player while providing an insight on how he came about signing a new five-year extension with the club.
De Goey on Friday officially turned his back on free agency to ink his new long-term deal with Collingwood – that included behaviour clauses in the first two seasons – tying the 26-year old to the AIA Centre until 2027 and ending a long-term contract standoff.
The Pies initially pulled a four-year deal from De Goey after his Bali antics that continued a string of off-field offences, while the gun on-baller then knocked back a five-year offer earlier this week due to the arbitrary behaviour stipulations.
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Speaking on AFL Trade Radio, De Goey’s manager Ryan Vague insisted his client shouldn’t have any more restrictions on top of existing rules.
“The biggest thing for Jordan (De Goey) and what we conveyed to the club – and they respectfully understood and we reached the position – we weren’t going to have Jordan held to any standards above what is expected of an AFL player,” he said on AFL Trade Radio’s Trade Exchange.
“The AFLPA were strong on that this week and so were we, we weren’t here to set a precedent moving forward that could expose players to more (clauses) and the club were very respectful to that.
“Jordan is still bound by the behaviours expected of an AFL player, and the rest of it will stay between the parties.”
The Magpies beat out St Kilda and Essendon in the race for De Goey’s signature, with the former a long-time suitor for the star midfielder/forward.
Vague confirmed the Saints’ interest was “genuine” and that he and De Goey were impressed by the club’s pitch.
“The one thing I would say about the Saints – and Jordy conveyed that to me last night too. As hard as it is to tell the team that might miss out on you, his decision was to remain a Collingwood footballer, it wasn’t to not go to another club such as St Kilda,” he said.
“They put forward a really impressive and strong stance on trying to lure Jordan over. Both he and I were super impressed with the Saints at every meeting we had from everyone within that organisation.
“Unfortunately it didn’t pan out.”
Vague revealed De Goey informed him of his decision to sign on with the Magpies late on Thursday night.
“This was a massive decision, I even gave him the option of sleeping on it last night,” he said.
“We’d had some advancements yesterday with the footy club, and Jordy went away from that meeting, had a chat with parents and a couple of close friends … he reached his decision late last night, rang me and said he wants to remain a Pie for five more years.
“I had a feeling all along (that he wanted to stay a Magpie). It was about getting the information and all the pieces of the puzzle to let Jordan have a really fully informed decision – on what is the biggest decision of his career moving forward.
“I think in his heart of hearts it was always he would stay a Magpie.”
