AFL trade news 2022: Brodie Grundy to decide between Collingwood and Melbourne

Having ruled out a move to South Australia, Brodie Grundy’s options for next year are down to two clubs. Find out the latest on the Collingwood ruckman.

Hawthorn has encouraged Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell to seek a third club. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Dual All Australian Brodie Grundy looks set to play for Melbourne next year if he cannot find a way to stay at the Pies after Geelong went cold on the gun ruckman.

The Cats had some early interest in Grundy given they have always been on the lookout for ruckmen to strengthen that area of their midfield.

But the Herald Sun understands they are content to go into 2023 with contracted ruckmen Rhys Stanley and ex-Hawthorn veteran Jon Ceglar with both performing strongly at times this year.

Stanley has enjoyed his best year in Geelong colours despite some injury niggles with Ceglar putting in an exceptional performance in round 23 with 24 possessions, 29 hit-outs and 11 clearances.

The Cats also hold out high hopes for their No. 24 draft pick from last November in Toby Conway, a former Geelong Falcons ruckman who has played only 10 VFL games due to injury this year.

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Geelong is out of the race for Brodie Grundy.

Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn could be in the same team next year.

The Cats ruck stocks have not been so deep for some time given All Australian utility Mark Blicavs is also capable of pinch-hitting in the ruck or even as a midfield tagger.

It means that Grundy is considered likely to move to Melbourne if they lose ruckman Luke Jackson to Fremantle, with his odds of remaining at Collingwood dwindling by the day.

A third option could still emerge but given Grundy has done his due diligence in discussions with Port Adelaide and Melbourne and wants to play for a Victorian contender it would seem less likely.

The Dockers are extremely confident Jackson will find a way to Fremantle but given West Coast still believes it is some chance to secure him every party will wait until he makes an official decision.

The Demons could only consider Grundy if they lost Jackson and the Pies paid up to $300,000 of his million dollar salary for the next five years.

But it would be one of footy’s greatest ruck combinations with eight All Australian nods between them, with the Demons’ interest in Grundy revealed by the Herald Sun in early August.

Critically his knee felt excellent when he returned to VFL football after a three-month PCL issue but it was his ankle that required him to be shut down for the year.

The lack of available key forwards on the market means clubs like Melbourne are having to consider left-field options which for the Demons would see Max Gawn playing more than 50 per cent as a key forward.

Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey had been raised as a potential recruit by Geelong but they have their sights set on GWS midfielder Jacob Hopper instead.

Hopper has strong interest from clubs including Richmond, but there is still real uncertainty about where he and GWS uncontracted midfielder Tim Taranto will end up.

Rivals believe Richmond has offered Taranto a lucrative offer of over $700,000 while the Pies have told him they can still afford him even if Jordan De Goey remains.

All of it depends upon Collingwood easing salary cap pressures given they could conceivably bring in $2 million of talent in Dan McStay, Taranto, Bobby Hill and Adelaide’s Billy Frampton.

The Pies were linked to Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell on Wednesday with the Hawks having mature discussions with the Brownlow Medallist about whether he might secure greater opportunities in another midfield.

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Hawthorn is strongly considering offloading Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell to help fast-track its rebuild under Sam Mitchell next season.

The star onballer has been encouraged to consider options at rival clubs to help Hawthorn land another early draft pick.

Collingwood is yet to express strong interest but is considered the most likely new home at this stage, as the Magpies look at ways to bolster their centre clearance power.

The Magpies have been low in contested possession and clearance rates all season and could make a serious play for Mitchell if they, as expected, part ways with superstar ruckman Brodie Grundy.

Collingwood had originally set its sights on GWS Giants’ star Tim Taranto, who is leaning towards joining Richmond, forcing the Pies to consider other options.

Mitchell, 29, is on a significant salary worth more than $700,000 for the final year of his contract next season at Waverley, meaning the Hawks would have to pay some of his wage at his new club.

Hawthorn has encouraged Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell to seek a third club. Picture: Phil Hillyard

It means the Magpies could nab Mitchell at a discount rate only two years after forcing out midfielder Adam Treloar to clear a big chunk of his $900,000 a year wage.

Hawthorn made efforts late in last year’s trade period to try and off-load a senior player such as Luke Breust or Chad Wingard last year but were unable to secure a deal.

But the open discussions with Mitchell about moving to a third club have happened earlier this year giving the Hawks and rival clubs more time and scope to thrash out a potential deal.

The Hawks would likely demand a top-30 pick for Mitchell, but whether they accept a first or second-round selection could yet depend on how much salary they are also prepared to chip in.

Mitchell remains one of the AFL’s top ballwinners, averaging 28 disposals a game in 2022.

But his role inside the Hawthorn centre square would almost certainly be diminished next season.

Mitchell has plenty of history with the Pies, racking up huge disposal numbers. Picture: Michael Klein

Sam Mitchell wants to blood more young talent through the middle next year including Josh Ward, while netting another first or second round draft pick to the Hawks’ haul.

Sources said the deal looms as a win-win for both parties as a move to Collingwood could put Mitchell back at a club in premiership contention after starting his career at Sydney Swans. But Grundy may have to seal a trade to Melbourne or Geelong first to give the Pies the cap space to accommodate Mitchell along with Dan McStay and Bobby Hill.

News Corp understands Mitchell’s management and the Hawks are taking a mature approach to his future in the lead-up to what is shaping up as a bumper exchange period.

Mitchell has previously expressed a strong desire to remain at Hawthorn, however the club has been open about its desire to head in another direction in the back end of the season.

Port Adelaide is also keen to bolster its midfield stocks and have interest in Western Bulldogs’ Josh Dunkley.

Originally published as AFL trade news 2022: Brodie Grundy to decide between Collingwood and Melbourne