The Magpies are holding firm to their stance to not move to re-sign De Goey until the season is over,despite St Kilda circling the restricted free agent after gaining board approval to pursue his signature.

Industry sources said the Magpies are not sitting on their hands and are making preparations to be in a position to either put an offer to De Goey,or match any offer he accepts from another club to force a trade,potentially offering a long-term deal to the match-winning midfielder.

The Magpies took a contract offer off the table in June,after De Goey created unwanted headlines when footage surfaced of him partying at a nightclub in Bali while taking a break during the bye,less than a year after he was arrested during the off-season in New York.

He has not put a foot wrong since and was best on ground against Melbourne in round 21 withhis coach Craig McRae saying he would like the 26-year-old to stay at the club beyond this season.

Collingwood CEO Mark Anderson was non-committal when asked on Monday about De Goey’s future at the Magpies as he announced the club had reached 100,000 members for the first time.

“Jordy has been really good over the back half of the year and in fact all season on-field,and his preparation has been really good. But,as we said,we’ve parked conversations until the end of the season,and we are holding to that,” Anderson said.

“Jordy is doing everything right on-field and off,and we will sit down with him at the end of the season. We are pleased with the way he is tracking.”

Pendlebury also toldThe Age he would like Grundy to remain. The ruckman’s management have been open to him being traded,subject to the right club and Grundy supporting it.

“Yeah,same[on Grundy as De Goey]. Yeah,it’s one of those things in football,because you hear the chatter. Like I love my... All-Australian ruckmen don’t grow on trees. I mean,All-Australian players in general don’t grow on trees,so yeah I hope Jordy stays,I hope Brodie stays.

“But it’s the nature of the beast in a sense with free agency and stuff like that it can happen now. It’s what we wanted as an industry. But yeah I would like if both guys could stay.”

Pendlebury felt the Magpies learned much from their round three encounter with the Cats - when Geelong wiped off a 37-point deficit to win by 13 points - but he did not think that clash held much relevance to Saturday’s qualifying final.

“Yeah,we learned a bit from the last game which I think held us in good stead for the season in the close games,the way we execute better,things like that.

“But I don’t think both sides would look back at that game too much and think ‘how do they play?’ Because both sides have improved and changed a lot.

“I don’t think it’s that relevant...they were playing a new way,we were playing a new way and I feel like we’ve both improved a hell of a lot since then.”

The Magpies are waiting on emerging forward Oliver Henry to agree to a new contract with the club as he weighs up his future. Henry,the brother of Geelong defender Jack,was pick 17 in the 2020 national draft and has kicked 21 goals in 15 games this season,showing poise in critical moments.

Geelong are monitoring Henry’s contract status knowing the 20-year-old might be contemplating a return to his hometown but have been open with the Magpies that they have not been chasing the youngster as he looks to establish his career.

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