Collingwood president Eddie McGuire believes Jordan De Goey is learning his lesson, and could be set for an early return back into Collingwood's line-up, potentially in time for round one.
De Goey was handed an indefinite ban after driving last month, and is currently away from the club working full-time as a landscaper while training with the Pies' VFL side at night.
The midfielder was tasked with changing his behaviour and regaining the trust and support of his teammates, and McGuire believes the 21-year-old is on the right path.
โThereโs a number of factors there that weโll take into account,โ McGuire told Sportsday SA when quizzed on De Goey's availability for round one.
โHeโs been punished enough and heโs learning his lesson. We will do whatโs right for the club.
โClearly weโre not in a position where we can waste good players, we need to have everybody up and going for us to be a chance in 2018 but it is a long season.
โWeโll get him physically right, weโll get him mentally right and weโll get him spiritually right and when heโs at his optimum to play again, because clearly he wasnโt, he was out drinking on the weekend on that occasion, or at least drinking and driving, heโll be right to go.
โI think heโll make a pretty early return to our team.โ
The Pies open their season with a clash against Hawthorn, before facing GWS, Carlton, Adelaide, Essendon and Richmond in the opening six weeks.
