How Port Adelaide made a huge mistake by not drafting South Australian superstar Brodie Grundy
PORT Adelaide’s decision not to draft Brodie Grundy in the 2012 national draft is its biggest recruiting mistake since overlooking 17-year-old South Australian Matthew Pavlich in 1998.
- The inspiration behind Grundy’s prelim demolition
- Varcoe’s stirring message to Magpies
- Eagles condemn Demons to prelim hell
PORT Adelaide’s decision not to draft Brodie Grundy in the 2012 national draft is its biggest recruiting mistake since overlooking 17-year-old South Australian Matthew Pavlich in 1998.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and all 18 clubs have a heartbreaking draft story that they would love to relive.
The decision of both Port Adelaide and Adelaide to ignore Pavlich no doubt has coast both clubs further premiership success.
Imagine Pavlich alongside Warren Tredrea in the Port Adelaide era of 2001-2004 where they dominated the home and away season.
He would have been in his prime and equally influential for Adelaide in 2005 and 2006 where the Crows bowed out in consecutive preliminary finals.
Pavlich was eventually drafted to Fremantle with pick four and becoming one of the most decorated players in history winning six best and fairest awards and earning eight All Australian selections.
Port Adelaide were exposed to Grundy when he came to train with the club for a week in 2011 as part of the AFL-AIS Academy program.
When introduced into match play against the seasoned Power ruckman, Grundy immediately
dominated and had the Port Adelaide playing group looking on in awe of this powerful 17-year-old man mountain.
The Sturt product was touted as a top 10 selection prior to the draft and with Port armed with pick seven they were in the prime position to pounce on him.
Adelaide were excluded from the first round of the draft in 2012 after been penalised for the Kurt Tippett saga.
Despite their affection for Grundy, Port believed they already were `stocked with young ruckmen and put their faith in Jarred Redden and Matthew Lobbe to carry the future ruck duties of the club.
There weren’t too many complaints when they snared Ollie Wines with the pick seven as he made an immediate impact in his first season playing ever game.
Wines will go on to captain the club, maybe as early as next year, and will be a solid player for many years to come.
However, Grundy has become a top 10 player in the league and shared All Australian honours with Melbourne’s Max Gawn this year.
He brutalised premiership ruckman Toby Nankervis in Friday’s preliminary final win over Richmond and repeatedly set up his midfielders at the stoppages. As a result Collingwood kicked a season-high 10 stoppage goals.
Grundy’s elite endurance, aggression and aerial ability allows him to play like an extra midfielder.
This was displayed on Friday night as he recorded 21 disposals, five clearances, eight score
involvements, 56 hit-outs and a goal in a near best on ground performance.
His on field capabilities are freakish but it’s impossible to measure his off-field influenced. His teammates would describe him as different and he has a wider lens of the world that extends beyond football.
The 202cm frame, long hair and beard combined with a unique personality and huge social media presence combine to be a marketers dream.
It’s set to be a life changing week for Grundy, he is an outside chance for the Brownlow Medal, before leading the Magpies into Saturday’s grand final against West Coast.
If only Port Adelaide could wind back the clock.
WINNERS
1. Roaring Carr
FROM second last in 2016, last in 2017 to premiers in 2018. Coach Josh Carr has galvanised a North Adelaide playing group that were on their knees and don’t we love it.
2. Pendles No. 1
SHOULD Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury hold up the premiership cup on Saturday afternoon he will overtake Nathan Buckley as Collingwood’s greatest ever player.
3. Second Chance
IN the 2015 Grand Final Hawthorn made a mess of West Coast with the game over at quarter time. Eagles stars Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling were ineffective and questions were asked about their ability to stand up on the big stage. Not often in life do you get a second chance.
4. Team USA
AMERICAN Mason Cox placed Australian Rules on the world stage with his match winning
performance that included three goals and eight contested marks. Another side note to the 2018 Collingwood fairytale.
5. Classy loser
DAMIEN Hardwick was all class when he visited the victorious Collingwood rooms to congratulate Nathan Buckley and the players after the game. We should see more of this.
LOSERS
1. Disgraceful Dees
MELBOURNE’S 66-point loss to West Coast reminded me of Port Adelaide’s 2007 grand ginal performance as the Demons were held goalless in the first half. A deer frozen in headlights best describes the pitiful display.
2. Andrew’s Gaff
WEST Coast’s Andrew Gaff has been a regular in the Eagles coaching box this finals series as he continues to serve his eight week suspension for a king hit on Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw. I’m sure the sick feeling still lingers in his stomach.
3. Lacklustre Lewis
MELBOURNE’S Jordan Lewis was the most experienced player in Saturday’s preliminary final yet he performed like a first-gamer. His first-quarter punch on Willie Rioli gifted West Coast a shot on goal then moments later he turned the ball over with a hospital handball that led to the Eagles first goal.
4. Dusty downer
IT’S always a massive risk selecting injured players in finals. Damien Hardwick rolled the dice with superstar Dustin Martin even though he was unable to train leading into the preliminary final while also selecting David Astbury who was ill. Both were completely ineffective.
5. Murray madness
COLLINGWOOD’S Sam Murray has gone underground since recording a positive drug test after the Magpies round 19 match. Murray’s stupidity has cost him a life changing moment of running out on grand final day.
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