Brodie Grundy could make AFL return in big revelation from Simon Goodwin
The Demons ruckman could make an unexpected return against Richmond, with Simon Goodwin leaving the door open for the 29-year-old to make a comeback.
Melbourne Demons ruckman Brodie Grundy could be in line for an AFL recall, with head coach Simon Goodwin declaring he has an 'open mind' to how the former All Australian can fit alongside Max Gawn against Richmond this weekend. Grundy was dropped earlier in July as the Demons looked for the 29-year-old to hone his craft as a forward.
The Demons and Goodwin subsequently looked to play down the reports of their desire for Grundy to play as a more permanent forward, however Goodwin has admitted there are difficulties in balancing the side appropriately with two highly mobile, typically dedicated ruckmen on the list.The Demons acquired Grundy from Collingwood in what was widely seen as a steal, as Collingwood felt they needed to move off Grundy's lucrative contract for salary cap reasons.
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The move has proved to be mutually beneficial, with Grundy a key inclusion as the Demons dealt with an injury to Gawn earlier in the season. Collingwood meanwhile, have firmed as premiership contenders in Grundy's absence and have also been able to re-sign ruck-forward Mason Cox.
Grundy has played two VFL games for the Demons' affiliate Casey since being dropped, but his returns in the forward line haven't exactly been eye-catching. He booted 1.3 against cellar-dwellers Coburg last weekend, to go along with 12 hitouts and 12 disposals. Nevertheless, Goodwin says the 29-year-old is in the selection frame for their clash with Richmond on Sunday.
"There's a fair bit of talk about Brodie but the plan hasn't changed," Goodwin said. "He's working incredibly hard on his game, we got him some forward exposure last week at VFL level which we're really encouraged about.
"We don't have to pick our team for a couple of days. We'll get to our main training session, assess how things are going and then pick our team accordingly. He's in the mix, he's progressing well."
While some of the more rampant speculation has cooled in the the weeks since Grundy was initially dropped, many still believe the two-time All-Australia could potentially look for a new home at the end of the 2023 season. Grundy signed a lucrative deal with Collingwood reportedly worth roughly $900,000 per season in 2020 after a standout campaign.
The Magpies are still on the hook for part of that deal, with Grundy off contract in 2027. Goodwin says the Demons still like the idea of pairing him with Gawn, and it is simply a matter of working out the best way to do so.
"We're really open minded ... we love the combination," the coach said. "What we're trying to do is get a bigger impact when either of the rucks are forward of centre, and Brodie's a big part of that.
"This isn't just a short-term thing, this is about getting better."
Brodie Grundy facing difficult battle to compete with teammate Max Gawn
When he was first dropped it coincided with Gawn producing a standout performance against the Brisbane Lions in a crucial round 18 match. The premiership ruckman was also among the Demons' best in the narrow win over Adelaide a week later.
It prompted Demons legend Garry Lyon to ponder whether or not Grundy would be able to force his way back into the side without a dominant performance in the VFL as a forward. He said Gawn's performance against Brisbane showcase the enormity of the task ahead of Grundy - a difficult position to be in, given he'd slot straight into many other sides on merit.
“Unlikely, because he’d need to kick four goals a game in the VFL, and get a spot as a key forward,” Lyon told Fox Footy. “The dominant ruckman (Gawn) who had been reduced to a role player ... became the dominant ruckman in the competition again in the space of four quarters of footy.
“It was staggering the way it played out because he became everything that he was and hasn’t been able to be because of his selfless approach.”
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