De Goey is entering what should be in the prime of his career,and it appears the years of returning to pre-season training overweight and underdone may be over.

Martin produced arguably the greatest individual season of all time in ’17 when he was the Brownlow and Norm Smith medallist in a premiership year.

Suggesting De Goey will replicate the same team and individual success appears unrealistic,particularly as the Magpies are rebuildingunder new coach Craig McRae. But he does boast similar power and game smarts to Martin,and can be a consistent midfield or forward match-winner should he be fitand his mindset right,having frustrated teammates earlier this year.

“I think they[Magpies] are going to push him in the midfield more[in 2022] and go with a few more taller targets at the other end,” Shaw said.

After an indifferent start to the 2021 season when Nathan Buckley was in charge,De Goey was used more in the midfieldunder caretaker coach Robert Harvey,and averaged 29 disposals,four clearances and five inside 50s in his last nine games. This included 34 touches in a win over the West Coast Eagles.He finished fourth in the best and fairest.

“Sometimes,something clicks. I was lucky enough to train under a bloke like Ray Giles who was a boxing coach and we used to have these sessions that were tortuous. I thought I was fit until I trained with Ray Giles. It taught you what your body can do,” Shaw said.

“It sometimes takes blokes too long to get there and then their opportunity might be gone. But when you have his[De Goey’s] ability,they will hang in there with you because you have super ability. He will get more chances than someone else who can’t play,of course. That’s the way it is. But,sooner or later,the discipline problem,if they keep going,the club gets a bit weary of it and might think it can do better with someone else.”

Magpies football-department boss Graham Wright said he had opened contract negotiations with De Goey’s new manager,Ryan Vague,who is a fireman and also the player’s brother in law.

De Goeysigned a two-year deal in 2020,worth close to $800,000 a year,according to industry sources,having approached Carlton about a move there.

In 2018,he was offered a five-year,$5 million deal by North Melbourne,after Martin had spurned the Kangaroos’ offer.

Industry sources said the Magpies and De Goey have much to weigh up in contract negotiations. While there has been a growing trend of clubs handing out bumper,long-term contracts –Demon Christian Petracca signed a year-deal this season,whileGiant Josh Kelly opted in for eight years – a school of thought is that De Goey may fall in the Jake Stringer categoryand be best served with an incentivised three-year deal. Stringer,the Essendon midfielder-forward,re-signed in July after backing himself to deliver in a contract season.

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