Scoop in September: Why the Demons’ president was stopped when he arrived at the MCG on Saturday night

Key Posts5.32amDe Goey on Tassie’s radarBy Jordan De Goey’s phone might have been getting a workout on Collingwood’s Mad Monday – and not just from teammates trying to locate the next venue.Scoop is hearing Tasmania intend to have a serious crack at the Collingwood star as they begin plotting the marquee names they want to spearhead their proposed entry into the AFL in 2028. And the timing could hardly be better.Jordan De Goey is still loving his time at Collingwood.Getty ImagesDe Goey is contracted to Collingwood until the end of 2027, meaning he could walk straight out of the Magpies and into Tasmania’s inaugural side without the new club having to prise him loose a year early.5.32am‘They forgot who I was’By Scoop has eyes everywhere – even in the underground carpark of the MCG on Saturday night. That was where the president of the Melbourne Football Club was being asked to prove he belonged.On the last Saturday night in August – the second night of AFL’s wildcard experiment – the stadium was dressed for the occasion. The Olympic Room was glowing. The suits were out. The football establishment had gathered for one of those grand nights when the game likes to admire itself: presidents, chief executives, powerbrokers and dignitaries assembled for the theatre of finals football.Steven Smith outside the MCG in 2021. Joe ArmaoInside, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon was entertaining the room. Outside, one of the MCG’s own tenants was struggling to get through the gate.5.32amWelcome backBy Welcome back to Scoop in September. It’s been a long 10 months since we left the September Club on grand final night, leaving the Brisbane Lions to their premiership celebrations.For the next month, this is where Sam McClure will drop news, training whispers, views and behind-the-scenes intel from AFL finals.Already, he’s been out and about at the AFL Awards, where he spotted Zak Butters seated at the Geelong table. The Cats, of course, are in the hunt for the Port Adelaide free agent’s signature.The 2026 All Australian team.AFL Photos via Getty ImagesThere’ll be plenty to report, on and off the field, so keep checking in all the way through to grand final day.In 2026, Scoop in September begins not on the boundary line, nor in the coaches’ box. Not even inside the Olympic Room, which is where anyone who is anyone can be found during AFL finals. We begin in the bowels of the great stadium on wildcard weekend – and in the whispers around trade period that are already starting to buzz.1 of 1