ST KILDA has flagged its interest in out-of-contract Collingwood midfielder Jordan De Goey, with the Magpie shaping as an in-demand player this year despite his off-field indiscretions.
De Goey's contract with the Magpies ends this season, and AFL.com.au understands the Saints are among the clubs tracking the 22-year-old's progress closely.
Collingwood has been in constant dialogue with the player's management but no serious discussions have started for a new deal for De Goey, who last week returned to the AFL for his first senior game of the season after a club suspension for drink-driving and then a hamstring strain.
Rival clubs believe De Goey could command around $500-600,000 per year for his next deal if the former No.5 draft pick has a consistent season for the Pies.
Sydney last year showed some interest in De Goey but did not reach the stage of negotiating a trade.
The Saints have been open about their intentions to lure players to the club at the end of this year, pointing to their move back to their newly refurbished Moorabbin headquarters as a potential drawcard.
De Goey fits into their preferred age demographic and also boasts skills as a match-winner in the midfield or attack, where he kicked 14 goals from 14 games last year, including a brilliant four-goal performance from 20 disposals against West Coast in round 18.
Clubs will be weighing his obvious talent with his history off the field, having last year been suspended for the Pies after lying to the club about a pre-season bar fight when he broke his hand.
He was suspended indefinitely in February this year, fined $10,000, forced to train with the club's VFL side and made to find a job away from the football field after returning a blood alcohol level of 0.095 – almost twice the legal limit – in a random breath test.
As part of the penalties, De Goey also agreed to give up alcohol until the end of the season and enlist "medical professionals" to improve his decision-making.
But after recovering from a hamstring strain, he was swiftly brought back into the Pies' lie-up and kicked a goal from 15 disposals in the Magpies' impressive win over Adelaide last week at the Adelaide Oval. He brings a crucial element of competitiveness and class to the Collingwood line-up.
After joining Collingwood at the 2014 NAB AFL Draft, De Goey signed a two-year extension with the Pies through to the end of 2018 only months later.
So did teammate Darcy Moore, who also is unsigned beyond this season. The father-son recruit is on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.