In a devastating blow to Collingwood’s faltering 2025 campaign, midfield dynamo Jordan De Goey has been ruled out indefinitely after aggravating a soft-tissue injury that club insiders now fear may sideline him for the remainder of the season.
The 28-year-old was placed on a modified training program earlier this month due to lingering groin and hamstring tightness. However, sources close to the club confirmed that his condition has deteriorated over recent days, prompting Collingwood to shut him down indefinitely to prioritise long-term recovery.
> “He’s one of the emotional leaders of this group,” coach Craig McRae said somberly. “This isn’t just about footy. We feel for Jordy—he’s hurting, and so are we.”
De Goey’s absence couldn’t come at a worse time. The reigning premiers have struggled to recapture the spark of their 2023 triumph, sliding outside the top eight after a string of close losses and increasingly uncharacteristic defensive lapses. His explosive ball use and contested presence were among the few constants in an otherwise inconsistent midfield group.
Fellow midfielders Tom Mitchell and Scott Pendlebury are also battling fitness concerns, leaving Collingwood alarmingly short on experience in the engine room heading into a make-or-break stretch of fixtures.
Club legend Nathan Buckley expressed concern over the Magpies’ trajectory without De Goey:
> “He’s not just a ball-winner—he’s a game-breaker. Without him, they lose one of the few players who can flip momentum in 60 seconds.”
With whispers of a possible long-term rebuild already circling and internal reviews reportedly underway, the loss of their marquee player further dims Collingwood’s 2025 hopes—and has left fans bracing for a painful few months ahead.
> “It’s heartbreaking,” said long-time supporter Denise Marshall. “First the injuries, now this. It just feels like the footy gods are punishing us after last year’s flag.”
For now, the Magpies must look inward—and find new heroes—if they are to salvage what’s left of a rapidly unravelling season.
