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.
“There’s a number of factors there that we’ll take into account,” McGuire told Sportsday SA when quizzed on De Goey's availability for round one.
“He’s been punished enough and he’s learning his lesson. We will do what’s right for the club.
“Clearly we’re 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.
“We’ll get him physically right, we’ll get him mentally right and we’ll get him spiritually right and when he’s at his optimum to play again, because clearly he wasn’t, he was out drinking on the weekend on that occasion, or at least drinking and driving, he’ll be right to go.
“I think he’ll make a pretty early return to our team.”
The Pies open their season with a clash against Hawthorn, before facing GWS, Carlton, Adelaide, Essendon and Richmond in the opening six weeks.
