Collingwood has opened talks with star midfielder Jordan De Goey but must decide whether to offer a longer-term deal, breaking from its one-year extension policy. De Goey seeks security as rival clubs monitor his future.
Collingwood Football Club has initiated preliminary contract discussions with star midfielder Jordan De Goey, a player regarded as a 'pre-agent' due to his looming free agency status.
The 30-year-old Magpie, who is currently contracted until the end of the 2025 season, is the subject of internal club deliberations regarding the optimal length for his next agreement. According to Fox Footy's Jon Ralph, both De Goey's management and Collingwood are eager to secure his future beyond 2027, but a key point of negotiation has emerged concerning contract duration.
De Goey, in career-best form and recognized as an unrestricted free agent, is expected to seek a longer-term deal-potentially three years-to provide security. This contrasts with Collingwood's recent historical preference for shorter, one-year extensions, as exemplified by their negotiations with veteran Jeremy Howe over the past three seasons. The club therefore faces the question of whether to deviate from its established strategy to retain a player of De Goey's caliber.
The situation is further complicated by Collingwood's broader list management challenges. Several key veterans, including Scott Pendlebury (38), Jeremy Howe (36), Steele Sidebottom (35), and Tim Membrey (32), are all approaching the end of their contracts without deals beyond 2027. This cluster of decisions creates a significant strategic juncture for the club's list planning.
De Goey's manager, Ryan Vague, has publicly expressed confidence that his client has at least five more years of elite football ahead, suggesting an extension could take De Goey to age 35. However, Collingwood's traditional approach prioritizes flexibility, especially for aging players, making a lengthy commitment a notable shift in policy. Observers note that De Goey's recent form strengthens his negotiating position.
Herald Sun journalist Josh Barnes highlighted that the 2023 premiership player may be enjoying the best six-week stretch of his career, following a slow start to the season and a history of injury concerns. Barnes also suggested that past tensions between De Goey and the club, which once saw him managed on a 'tight leash,' have now settled, creating a more stable environment for negotiations.
While De Goey has indicated he will let his on-field performance dictate the pace, his management is actively working behind the scenes to explore options that maximize his client's security and value. The coming months will reveal if Collingwood is prepared to offer the longer-term security De Goey seeks, or if the club's philosophical preference for annual reassessments will prevail amid interest from rival clubs monitoring his situation
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