Collingwood football boss Graham Wright admits Jordan De Goey’s pattern of behaviour will come into calculations when the club makes a call on his future.
The 25-year-old has been stood down by the Magpies as he prepares to face a New York court on December 8 after being charged with assault and aggravated harassment.
De Goey has pleaded not guilty and will “vigorously defend himself” following an alleged incident at a New York bar involving a 37-year-old man.
The Collingwood ace has found himself in hot water throughout his 118-game career and Wright said his behaviour is a “concern”.
“It (his pattern of behaviour) certainly comes into it – we’ve stood him down,” Wright told Sportsday.
“That behaviour over a period of time has found us in a situation where we felt it was the right thing to do for the football club to stand him down three or four weeks ago.
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“It’s a concern and a concern that he’s found himself in a situation where the best scenario for him is he’s been in New York and got into a barroom fight that’s seen him arrested, regardless of what happens with the court case.
“We’re really disappointed in it, we’ve obviously stood him down and until we get face to face with him and see where the court case goes and what’s happening with that, we’re in that holding pattern at the moment.”
New Collingwood coach Craig McRae recently told reporters that he expects De Goey to return to Australia this month, but Wright isn’t sure when he will be back.
“I can’t confirm it (De Goey’s return),” he said.
“There is an opportunity if the court case actually goes to court that he could do that via Zoom.
“I don’t know exactly when he’s back.”
De Goey hits free agency next year with his lucrative two-year contract due to expire at the end of 2022.