Out-of-form Collingwood superstar Jordan de Goey has been urged to be looked after more by his teammates, with some eye-opening statistics emerging from the 28-year-old’s start to 2024.
Highlighted as the third-highest ranked player in 2023 for creating damage from handball receives based on the AFL Player Ratings, de Goey has taken a stunning dive to a rank of 204th to start this season – but dual premiership player David King isn’t putting the blame exclusively on him.
“Jordy de Goey fascinates the whole lot of us, and I think he’s the drummer in the band at Collingwood – he keeps them in rhythm,” King said.
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“When things go through Jordan, they work – he’s the best decision maker in their team.”
With the Pies sitting 0-3 leading into their crucial clash with Brisbane, their game style and how opposition coaches have adapted has become more critical than ever.
“I can see that he’s a little bit out of form, but whose fault is that?” King questioned.
“Is that Collingwood’s and the players for not getting him the footy when he’s available and open, or is it the other teams or Ross Lyon (last week) saying ‘hey, we’re not getting beaten by what we know here.”
“It’s great coaching, and everyone knows it.”
De Goey’s direct and indirect scoreboard impact has also been hurt by the evolution of opposition game plans, as he registered his lowest number of score involvements (two) in six years against St Kilda last week.
“The last time he had less score involvements in a game was Round 6, 2018 – that’s over 100 games ago,” King highlighted.
De Goey, who kicked 18 goals from his 21 goals last season, has kicked one in his first three games of 2024.
As much as coaches have presented challenges for de Goey and his teammates offensively, King still believes his teammates could be doing more to get the ball in his hands.
“The more you look into it, it’s Collingwood not getting him the ball; he’s a handball receive man who runs that wing line,” he said.
While citing footage of the running patterns and disposal moving forward of multiple Magpies players on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, the two-time All-Australian outlined occasions of what can eventuate when de Goey’s teammates are passed the ball instead.
“This is what happens when you give it to those guys – they become turnover machines,” King explained.
“Is it other players thinking they can do more now? Are they putting their needs before the teams?
“It’s not an easy fix, but certainly correctable – give him (de Goey) the footy when he’s open.”
Brisbane are a team de Goey has historically enjoyed playing against, averaging two goals and 18 disposals against last year’s Grand Finalists.
He has not kicked more goals against an opposition in his 161-game career than Brisbane (22).
The Pies’ potentially season-defining match against the Lions at the Gabba starts at 7:30pm AEDT on Thursday.
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