Jordan De Goey suspended by Collingwood after being caught drink driving
Related Story: Collingwood's Jordan De Goey caught drink driving
Collingwood has indefinitely suspended midfielder Jordan De Goey from senior selection and fined him $10,000 after he was caught drink driving over the weekend.
The incident is not the first time the 21-year-old has run into trouble — last year he was fined $5,000 and suspended for three matches by the club, after lying about his involvement in a bar fight.
He had to have surgery on his right hand after injuring himself in the fight, but initially told the club he had injured himself playing with his pet dog.
After a series of meetings with the player and his management following this latest incident, the club said they had agreed that he would remain a senior player, under a number of conditions, including:
- He would not drink alcohol until season's end, when the ban will be reviewed.
- He would enlist the help of medical professionals to "improve his decision making".
- He would make "significant changes" to his social life and associations, which the club will monitor.
The club said his indefinite suspension would not be lifted until he had "convinced his peers and coaches that meaningful change had occurred, and that his standards have risen to those of the group".
He will also donate $10,000 to charity.
In a statement, Collingwood general manager of football Geoff Walsh said the sanctions were an opportunity for De Goey to "win back the faith" he had lost from the club and playing group.
"Jordan can have a long career with Collingwood if he commits himself wholly to his football but he could also have a very short career if he doesn't," Walsh said.
"The club, and particularly his teammates, want to see behavioural change. They need to be able to trust him and believe in him.
"He is telling us he wants to change. The time for talking is over."
In a lengthy statement, the Magpies also said the young player would get a job outside of the club for at least four weeks, as well as undertaking charity work.
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ABC .net
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