Collingwood coach Craig McRae says Jordan De Goey isn’t returning his messages – and admits he has NO IDEA why troubled star had to take leave from the club
- McRae is trying to keep in contact with De Goey every day – and failing to do so
- Coach confessed he doesn’t know what ‘triggered’ decision to ask for leave
- Also said he doesn’t know when De Goey will return to training for Collingwood
Collingwood coach Craig McRae has revealed troubled star Jordan De Goey failed to respond to his message as the club keeps close tabs on him after he was granted personal leave – and confessed he has no idea what ‘triggered’ his absence.
De Goey could be back at Collingwood as soon as this weekend but the troubled AFL star will be given as long as he needs to deal with the fallout from his ill-fated trip to Bali.
He was granted personal leave from the club on Wednesday, after the Magpies confirmed they had pulled a lucrative four-year deal off the table for the 26-year-old free agent.
The dynamic midfield-forward was also cautioned by Collingwood, with the threat of a $25,000 fine hanging over his head if he behaves poorly again.
De Goey copped a suspended $25,000 fine and had a Collingwood contract offer withdrawn after video surfaced of his Bali antics with Instagram model Remy Jackson (pictured together)
Magpies coach Craig McRae (pictured on Friday) admitted the star hasn’t returned his message and he’s in the dark about why he felt the need to take leave from the club
De Goey apologised for his ‘disrespectful’ conduct in Bali during the Magpies’ bye round after vision was posted to social media last week and revealed he had been diagnosed with ADHD.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae has reached out to De Goey since he took his leave of absence and is hopeful he will accept the help offered to him.
De Goey has been ruled out of Collingwood’s clash with GWS on Sunday, no matter when he chooses to end his leave.
‘I try to keep in contact with him daily and I didn’t hear back from him. Hopefully he’s in a good space,’ McRae said on Friday.
Footage of De Goey trying to expose Jackson’s breast (pictured) is believed to be the the crux of the Magpies’ decision to withdraw their lucrative offer to the troubled star
Jackson branded the Bali scandal a storm in a teacup in a message to her Instagram followers, but the club and many senior AFL figures think it’s just the opposite
‘We’ve got the resources around him that we think can support him; he’s got his management team.
‘We’re here to love and support him the best way we can.
‘It could be as early as today (Friday) or tomorrow (Saturday), I’m not sure (when De Goey returns to the club).
‘We’re guided by others and obviously himself and we’ll just sit here waiting for him to come back in our four walls.
‘In my time coaching him he’s grown a lot already.
‘I don’t know the detail of what exactly what’s caused or triggered Jordan to not be in a place to come in but (psychologist) Jacqui Louder is working really closely with him.’
De Goey has been ruled out of the Pies’ clash with the GWS Giants this weekend
Meanwhile, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan is satisfied with Collingwood’s handling of the De Goey situation.
‘I guess I was frustrated by it (De Goey’s actions),’ McLachlan told 3AW.
‘I won’t get into the individual specifics other than to say our position at the AFL is really clear – there is no place other than behaviour across our community that has total respect for women.
‘We try and get all of the clubs to handle these issues themselves.
‘He has contract talks off the table, he has a $25,000 suspended fine and he is undergoing further counselling.’