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Former AFL coach rips Jordan de Goey statement: 'You're an adult'

Nathan Buckley has suggested his former charge Jordan de Goey needs to take more responsibility for his actions in Bali over the weekend, despite him having comitted no outright wrongdoing. Pictures: Getty Images
Nathan Buckley has suggested his former charge Jordan de Goey needs to take more responsibility for his actions in Bali over the weekend, despite him having comitted no outright wrongdoing. Pictures: Getty Images

Jordan De Goey has been told to take some ownership for his actions in surprisingly frank comments from his former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley in the wake of his Bali controversy.

Collingwood came in for criticism late last week after it was revealed De Goey, who was arrested in New York last December, would be spending his mid-season break in Bali.

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Subsequent videos of his trip posted on social media show him drinking and partying with friends in a local nightclub, before the footage shows him attempt to expose a female companion's breasts.

The woman seen in the videos, Remy Jackson, posted on Instagram saying there was 'nothing to see here' regarding the footage, while De Goey took to Instagram with a statement of his own on Sunday.

He accused the media of manufacturing an 'uneducated, bias and ill-informed narrative', as well as 'persecution of athletes'.

There is no suggestion De Goey is responsible for any wrongdoing, however Buckley said it was nevertheless an extremely poor look for the 26-year-old.

Buckley said it shouldn't always be up to the club to hold the hands of their players, though he conceded he would have discouraged De Goey from travelling to Bali if he was still with the club.

“You’ve got to treat them like adults when they are adults and at 26 years of age you’re an adult," Buckley told Fox Footy.

"Jordy has to take responsibility for the decision to go over, he has to take responsibility for the position that he has put himself in and the club in.

“There’s been a whole heap that has come from it and there’s a whole heap that will come from it unfortunately.

“The rest of his teammates and his staff were away on their break trying to get some r&r and on a Friday night or Saturday morning they’re facing this.

“I don’t know how much heart space and headspace they’re going to get, unfortunately.”

Jordan de Goey controversy erupts after Bali nightclub footage leaks

The latest off-field scandal has divided AFL opinion somewhat, particularly the criticism directed towards Collingwood themselves.

While there have been many criticising the club for allowing De Goey to travel to Bali, former St Kilda star Nick Riewoldt said he was surprised the Magpies star didn't say more about what he was being most harshly criticised for - namely his attempts to loosen Jackson's shirt.

Riewoldt said De Goey had to understand how that would look to others outside him immediate circle.

“He‘s gone on the front foot and as people sometimes say, the best form of defence is a good offence,” he said.

“He’s certainly gone on the attack it it’s probably the opposite of what I was expecting in terms of a statement.

Jordan de Goey has showcased decent form for Collingwood in 2022, after he was arrested in New York late last year. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Jordan de Goey has showcased decent form for Collingwood in 2022, after he was arrested in New York late last year. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

‘I probably would’ve acknowledged the optics of the situation.

"Then if you’re looking for sort of an out, you’d make a statement around freedom of players and the fact players are grown-ups and make their own choices.

“There are so many layers to this with within sort of the one incident; clearly there was the pulling of the clothing and the fact that he was in Bali and that was criticised prior to any of the other stuff. There are so many layers.”

On Saturday morning, prior to the posts from Jackson and De Goey, Collingwood announced they were looking into the videos and would comment on them at a later time.

“The Collingwood Football Club is aware of video footage involving player Jordan De Goey that was taken in Bali in recent days. The Club will comment further as soon as it is in a position to do so,” the statement read.

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