Jordan De Goey is ranked as the AFL’s worst kick through six rounds of the season, according to the league’s official stats partner Champion Data.
The 28-year-old superstar has had a slow start to the 2024 season after leading Collingwood to a premiership last season, only twice having over 21 touches.
But Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne’s revelation surrounding De Goey adds more context to the Magpies losing their first three games of 2024.
“They’re 3-3 and probably aside from Nick Daicos, their best player in Jordan De Goey, other than the weekend, has had an absolute stinker of a season so far and they’ve got to this point where they’re 3-3,” Hoyne told SEN’s Sportsday.
“At the moment, off our 100X ratings system, he’s the 304th rated player in the competition and the AFL’s worst kick.
“You don’t usually associate that with Jordan De Goey… for Jordan De Goey to be the AFL’s worst kick, rated as the 304th best player in the competition and to still be 3-3 with your game improving, I think is significant positives for where Collingwood can actually get to.”
Champion Data’s grading of a player’s disposal by foot takes into account more than just kicking efficiency, with how much pressure a player is under and the type of kick attempted among the other factors considered.
Hoyne had earlier said he wasn’t jumping fully back on the Collingwood bandwagon, explaining he’s “got to see a fair bit more” from the reigning premiers.
“WE’VE GOT TO SEE A FAIR BIT MORE”: CHAMPION DATA PUMPS BRAKES ON PIES BUT PRAISES MCRAE
De Goey finished with 10 votes in the Gary Ayres Medal for the best player through the 2023 finals series. In two of those three games, the former number five pick had 20.2 rating points or higher in dragging the Pies to premiership glory.
Last week against Port Adelaide was De Goey’s highest-rated game of 2024, finishing with 15.5 rating points.
“That’s what I’m looking forward to over the next 4-6 weeks. If he can get going, that’s when I think we’ll start jumping on the Collingwood train a little bit more than what we are now,” Hoyne added.
Collingwood are 10th on the ladder heading into Round 7 but can jump into the top eight with a win over Essendon on Anzac Day.