'Cheap shot': Eddie McGuire hits back in AFL stand-down controversy
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has slammed suggestions that Magpies forward Jordan de Goey has been allowed to continue playing due ti his high profile, despite being charged with sexual assault earlier in the year.
The charges stem from a 2015 incident, with De Goey cleared by both Collingwood and the AFL to continue playing as the legal process continues.
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His playing status has garnered controversy after Sydney Swans rookie Elijah Taylor was stood down after he was charged with aggravated assault by police in Western Australia this week, following an incident with his girlfriend.
In an opinion piece for the The Australian, chief sports writer Jessica Halloran questioned why De Goey was allowed to play after the Swans so swiftly stood down Taylor.
“De Goey, who has been charged with sexual assault of a woman, was best on ground on Monday in a match against the Gold Coast,” she wrote.
“On Tuesday Gillon McLachlan released a statement that publicly supported the Swans stand down of Taylor – and abhorring violence against women – but that firm move brazenly contradicts their stance on De Goey.
“The AFL have still said nothing about why they have let De Goey play.”
De Goey was initially subject to investigation in 2018 after Collingwood handed the matter to the AFL Integrity Unit, but it wasn’t until this year that police laid charges.
Eddie McGuire defends decision to play Jordan de Goey
Speaking on Channel 9 program Footy Classified, McGuire said De Goey’s skill level was ‘not something that even enters our mind’ when they considered if it was appropriate for him to continue playing.
McGuire also said the Magpies hadn’t commented on the saga out of respect for the woman at the centre of the allegations, and labelled the suggestion they had continued playing him due to his high-profile a ‘cheap shot’.
“This is a very vexed issue and there’s no cookie-cut solutions to these situations,” he said.
“That’s why we have law courts and that’s why we have people have their day in court.
“We, as Collingwood. haven’t commented up until now due to the respect to all parties and particularly the woman involved and we’ve respected her wishes throughout this whole situation.
“Now to ensure the matter was investigated independently and appropriately, in early 2018 the Collingwood Football Club handed the allegation from 2015 over to the AFL Integrity Commission and, through them, made the police aware of the allegation.
“The individual was also encouraged to contact the police. The issue was resolved in 2018, seemingly to the satisfaction of everyone involved.
“Now at this point, we are unsure why the matter has resurfaced and we are awaiting further information and this information has not been forthcoming.”
AFL prefers case-by-case review
The Taylor case and the juxtaposition between that and De Goey’s situation has not escaped the AFL’s attention, with CEO Gillon McLachlan quizzed about whether the league would consider a ‘no-fault- stand down policy akin to that implemented by the NRL.
McLachlan told AFL 360 those conversations had been ongoing.
“The debate this week has been about no-fault stand down. That’s been debated in the past. Our policy is focused on the complaint at the centre and we treat every case on its merits and they are all different – and after that it’s difficult to say, but I understand the debate around it
“It’s a debated position that we don’t have the policy and we treat every case on their facts. It’s a good and fair debate and I’m sure it will happen again at the end of the year.”
