Lazza wrote:^^^^
However I can’t see the link between this and his playing contract if he has done nothing wrong.
I think the same way as you Lazza, MJ23 and Back Bucks. Providing he is found not guilty (of course!), he needs to be accepted back into the club immediately and strongly advised on how he can avoid getting into such situations again. Like you say Lazza, being more selective about his mates would be a good start I reckon! Here's an interesting article about that -
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2018/02/19/ ... r-de-goey/
As MJ23 said, I wouldn't have thought that the club has much power over the terms of his remaining contract, other than to sack him and pay him out! Who knows, JDG might be glad to get out of the place and find fresh fields, where there's a bit of reciprocal loyalty and support from club administration and supporters alike. Many people here seem to forget that he knocked back a more lucrative offer from North just a year or so back to stay with the Pies on a lesser deal.
I can't help thinking of the hilarious account that Swanny tells when he realized he was on his very last chance (and like JDG, he did push the envelope as far as it could go
). He said that Eddie and co absolutely tore strips off him and let him have some very strong home truths. When the dust settled, he said they also made it clear that they would support him in every way possible to help him turn things around.
I would hope that the present administration would take a similar approach. If they are too punitive and self-righteous about it, without also providing some parallel understanding and support, it may not work out well for them, JDG or the team's fortunes going forward.
I believe/hope that JDG will realize his potential, providing he accepts he needs to change some habits and is also given explicit advice on how to do just this. It shouldn't be assumed that he actually knows how to do this by himself at this stage!!! Not all people possess that capability, especially if they're taking a fair while to mature
I hope all this happens with the Pies and not another team.