Collingwood midfielder Jordan De Goey could be primed for a big campaign.
After enjoying a strong September where he finished third in the Gary Ayres Medal for the AFL’s best finals player, De Goey looks to have brought that form into 2023.
In Thursday’s pre-season clash against Hawthorn, De Goey picked up 31 disposals including eight clearances and 13 inside 50s and looked at his physical peak.
Kane Cornes described that performance as the best he’s seen the dynamic player look across his nine years in the system, calling for the 26-year-old to take his game to the next level and fulfil his potential in 2023.
“De Goey was as good as I’ve seen him yesterday,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.
“I want a challenge for Jordan De Goey, he hasn’t put together an elite season ever, he has been top five in the best and fairest once.
“Look at the resumes of players in his generation that his generation, his age group are starting to build.
“Look at (Clayton) Oliver’s resume, look at Zach Merrett’s resume, look at (Christian) Petracca, (Patrick) Dangerfield is a bit older but he’s got eight All-Australians, De Goey is that level (of talent).
“Have a great season, don’t have an up and down season, you’re going to play midfield and you’re going to get the ability to win more of the football, he had 30+ yesterday and no one could tackle him.
“Put together an elite season that matches your ability. He looks fit, he looks hard, he looks ready to go.
“I hope it is one of those seasons for him where we’re really talking about him winning the Brownlow and making an All-Australian for the first time.
“Why couldn’t he? If Ollie Wines can win a Brownlow, Jordan De Goey can win a Brownlow, but that’s on him, that’s up to him and how professional he’s going to be.
“He has all the capability to be in that level of player that we speak about week after week.”
David King believes the penny may have dropped for the Magpie as he finally enters a season in peak condition.
“I love him as a player,” King said.
“I don’t understand the knock on him … I get there’s some extra-curricular stuff that has gone on and he’s opened himself up to feedback.
“He’s always missed little patches of footy, a couple of weeks here a couple of weeks there.
“I don’t think he’s ever been rock-hard fit, absolutely Christian Petracca levels of fit.
“But when you see him training now – he’s had an impacted pre-season, he wasn’t there at the start with a shoulder op – but he’s at the age now, the penny has dropped for him.
“He knows what’s available, in terms of winning the premiership, he doesn’t have to be the reason, but he wins Collingwood games, there’s no doubt about that.”
De Goey and Collingwood will now gear up for a Round 1 clash against Geelong at the MCG on March 17.