Aisha Jade McKinnon makes admission about her partner Jordan De Goey as reality TV star claims the Collingwood midfielder’s ‘AFL bad boy’ reputation is unfair

Jordan De Goey’s partner Aisha Jade McKinnon has insisted that her partner is no ‘bad boy’.

Speaking in an interview with The Herald Sun, the reality television star claimed De Goey’s reputation among some around the AFL was ‘sad’ and not reflective of his true personality.

The 28-year-old footy star has previously found himself in the spotlight, most notably after he was arrested in New York in 2021 following an incident in a nightclub.

He had ended up spending the night in a cell in a Manhattan police station. De Goey has also come under fire following his off-field antics in a Bali nightclub back in 2022, with a video emerging of him appearing to expose a woman’s breast.

Last year, the footy star claimed that he was taking measures during the 2023 off-season to ‘stay out of trouble’ and focus on his football.

Collingwood had also reportedly attempted to add several behaviour-based clauses to his contract, which had initially been a sticking point for the midfielder before he put pen to paper on a new five-year deal with the Magpies in 2022.

McKinnon, pictured alongside De Goey at Collingwood’s recent Best and Fairest Awards, claimed that it was ‘sad’ that the midfielder had earned a ‘bad boy’ reputation among some 

De Goey (centre) endured an injury blighted season in 2024 and has travelled abroad to undergo rehabilitation to be fully fit for the 2025 season

McKinnon has now risen to the defence of her partner, claiming his reputation among some in the footy world is unfair.

‘It’s sad because I know a very different Jordy,’ she said to The Herald Sun.

Revealing that the couple are ‘very happy’ together, she added: ‘He’s really lovely. We definitely value our privacy, we connected on that, and we both have unique jobs and support each other.’

McKinnon, a former Big Brother star and fashion designer, also delved into how she met the footy star.

‘We met the good old fashioned Instagram way (over message),’’ McKinnon said, with the pair going on to purchase a farm in Victoria.

‘It was lovely and we were like pen pals until we met. We’re getting our hands dirty at the farm transforming it and having fun.’

Last season, De Goey kicked 10 goals in 13 league appearances for the Magpies, following an injury blighted campaign.

According to The Age, the footy star has travelled abroad in the off-season, specifically heading to the Aspectar clinic in Doha, to undergo groin and abdomen rehabilitation treatment in order to be fully fit for the 2025 season.