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De Goey and Moore side by side again

As the siren sounded at Etihad Stadium, declaring the Oakleigh Chargers the 2014 TAC Cup Premiers, Jordan De Goey and captain Darcy Moore shared a moment.

It was the final game of their Under-18 careers in blue and red stripes but, more than that, the best mates shared a realisation that it would be the last time they’d take to the field together as teammates. Or so they thought.

Moore – an athletic key position prospect and son of former Collingwood captain, dual Brownlow Medallist and Hall of Fame inductee Peter Moore – already had his future mapped out thanks to the father-son rule. But De Goey faced an anxious 10-week wait ahead of the National AFL Draft on the Gold Coast.

As fate had it, he bolted up the draft order. Whispers 24 hours out from the draft linked the bullocking 18-year-old to Collingwood’s pick five – a twist that ensured the pair would again find themselves together in stripes, albeit black and white.

https://storify.com/AFLPlayers/story-39

Did De Goey know he was a chance to end up at Collingwood with Moore?

“To be honest, not really,” he told aflplayers.com.au at last week’s AFL Players’ Induction Camp.

“I’d heard a few rumours and stuff like that, but that was it. To land at the biggest club in the country, especially with Darcy, who I’ve got a really good relationship with… I’m just rapt to be given the opportunity.

“Pendlebury’s constantly giving me advice out on the track, really urging me to back myself” – Jordan De Goey

“It’s a bit surreal that I was able to play a lot of junior footy with him, win a premiership together, and now play AFL together at Collingwood. It’s unbelievable.”

The 187cm midfielder from St Kevin’s College has settled in seamlessly at the Pies, showing off his toughness at the contest, speed outside packs and thumping right-foot. On top of all that, Moore says De Goey is a “competitive beast” who’s learning quickly from the best.

“I’ve done most of my work with Scott Pendlebury,” De Goey said.

“We do running sessions, drills, stuff like that, and he’s constantly giving me advice out on the track, really urging me to back myself, which is encouraging.

“He’s really reassured me to use my strengths, because the team is all about continuous improvement. He’s been my main influence since I got to the Pies.”

Moore has also proved an invaluable resource, given he began training with his first to fourth-year teammates at a training camp in Falls Creek six-weeks prior to the draft.

“I was able to ask him questions about his experiences with the club, as he got there earlier through the father-son bidding, which really helped the transition,” De Goey said.

The 18-year-old hard nut has ambitions to make his debut this year and, with Luke Ball retiring and Dayne Beams moving to the Brisbane Lions, there may be a spot in Collingwood’s engine room up for grabs.

“Obviously, I’d like to try and play as many games possible,” De Goey said.

“But I just really want to learn and acquire as much knowledge as I can and try and put my best foot forward.”

Watch as the draftees share their first impressions of life in the AFL