Nathan Buckley tapped Jordan De Goey on the shoulder on Monday morning and pulled him aside as the main group trained at the Westpac Centre.

The news was good, and it caught De Goey off-guard. The 19-year-old had been named the AFL’s round 20 NAB Rising Star nominee.

“Bucks actually came up to me outside at training today and took me out of the drill and told me about it,” De Goey told Collingwood Media.

“It’s obviously pretty exciting news. I didn’t think it was coming, I was just focussed on playing good footy and I was lucky enough to get it.”

While De Goey’s 18-disposal, 12-tackle performance against the Swans on Friday night put the icing on the cake for his nomination, the recognition comes on the back of a stellar debut season.

The former Oakleigh Charger bolted into AFL calculations after a strong NAB Cup and debuted in the substitutes vest in Brisbane in round one.

A stint in the VFL followed, before De Goey was once again able to cement his place as a midfielder in Collingwood’s best 22.

He has played in 12 of the Magpies last 13 games, with the exception being a well-deserved rest prior to his most recent game against Sydney.

“It’s been a bit of an up and down journey,” De Goey reflected.

“Towards the start of the year I was in the VFL and got my form back up which probably helped me get back into the AFL side.

“It’s been really good to be able to string a few games together in the senior side.”  

While he first earned a spot in a Collingwood midfield short of the injured Steele Sidebottom and Levi Greenwood, De Goey has now maintained his position alongside the Magpies premier onballers.

He believes his fellow midfielders, especially captain Scott Pendlebury, have provided a valuable asset to his on-field development.

“They’ve been awesome for me. I’m just trying to learn as much as I can off them… they’ve been great for my development so far.

“He (Pendlebury) is always giving me kind words and advice. He’s just making sure I’m doing the right things and I’m having the right standards.

“With his help I think I can definitely go further and keep improving.”

In a season where Buckley has blooded five debutants, De Goey is Collingwood’s second Rising Star nomination, after second-year player Tim Broomhead received recognition for his round 11 game against Greater Western Sydney.

While his personal progress wasn’t on De Goey’s mind during Friday night’s 11-point loss to Sydney, he received encouragement from the coaches post-game.

“It wasn’t too bad. I think I’ve definitely still got room for improvement,” he said.

“But overall, the coaches were pretty happy with it and I think it was a step in the right direction.”

On draft day, some first-year footballers have to leave all family and friends and cross the country to start their AFL journeys.

De Goey was lucky enough to have his named called out by the Magpies at number five, only to hear his Oakleigh Chargers teammate Darcy Moore picked under the father-son rule four picks later.

The best mates have shared every step of the first stage of their AFL careers, and De Goey is proud to watch his former teammate grow.

“To be able to move from Oakleigh to Collingwood with him is even better and to see him doing well is the best part about it,” De Goey said.

However with a cheeky smile on his face, De Goey says he wants to be the first person to remind Moore who won a Rising Star nomination first.

“I haven’t actually told him yet so I might have to get into his ear about it.”