Collingwood star Jordan De Goey says he always wanted to remain a Magpie after inking a five-year deal last month to turn his back on free agency.
De Goey waited until the eleventh hour to recommit to the club that drafted him at pick No. 5 in the 2014 draft, ultimately turning his back on an offer from St Kilda to remain at the AIA Centre ahead of the free agency period opening.
With the midfielder’s initial reluctance to re-sign with Collingwood hinging on behavioural clauses, De Goey said he was glad to remain at the club after both parties agreed on a deal.
“Obviously, it’s a bit of a stressful period of time, but at the bottom of my heart I always wanted to stay at the Pies,” De Goey told Seven News.
“That (the behavioural clauses) was a little bit of a sticking point for a while there, but at the end of the day we kind of agreed what was best for me and also the footy club.
“They (Craig McRae and his family) have just created this family culture and I’m really thriving in that as a lot of the other boys are too.”
De Goey’s deal at Collingwood contains behavioural clauses in the club’s favour for the first two years of his five-year deal, while the deal St Kilda were offering was reportedly clause-free.
The 26-year-old confirmed he did meet with the Saints on multiple occasions where he got an understanding of what a move to Moorabbin would have looked like.
“We had a lot of interviews, meetings and did all of the due protocols I guess to get the best understanding of what it would be like if I went there,” De Goey said.
The match-winner will now add to his 137 games for Collingwood in 2023 and beyond.