He strikes me as someone who has struggled a bit this season when playing as a pure mid role.. whether it is fatigue impacting disposal, pace of the game, or other factors.
But one of the biggest drivers I think will be how collingwood can use them to create mismatches. Rather than going forward and getting taken by a defender (and vice versa), they can rotate in transition and suddenly De Goey has pushed forward vs a midfielder, or is pushing up to stoppages with a defender in toe. It's an element of the 2021 Jake Stringer role, as a pure mid he struggled, as a forward he was useful, but playing that hybrid role took him to a new level.
Looking at scores (albeit a small sample size) De Goey averaged 95 with Elliot in the team but fell off a bit of a cliff without him. People have talked about high clanger games being a factor.. and a strong contributor to that could be fatigue/playing a pure 360 degree role.
Not to say it's for everyone but I just think there was strong signs in those first 3 games and the missing piece since then has been Elliot being injured.