‘He was never going to be a forward’: Jeremy Howe and Brayden Maynard weigh in on Brodie Grundy’s time at Melbourne

Collingwood defender Jeremy Howe put it bluntly – being ‘camped down at Casey is certainly no good’ for Brodie Grundy. The ruckman’s great mate opens up on what went wrong.

Nick Daicos is in doubt for Collingwood’s first final. Picture: Getty Images

Brodie Grundy’s great mate Jeremy Howe says he would be a “scary” proposition rucking to Port Adelaide’s elite midfield as he made clear the 29-year-old will never thrive as a key forward.

Melbourne ruckman Grundy is unlikely to be selected to take on his former side Collingwood in Thursday’s qualifying final and is certain to request a trade to a third club at year’s end.

This masthead reported last week Port Adelaide is the overwhelming favourite to secure his services, with Power coach Ken Hinkley meeting Grundy this week along with midfielders Connor Rozee and Zak Butters.

Collingwood defender Howe and Grundy catch up regularly and while he was not speaking for the former Pies ruckman, he made clear his friend had to find a landing spot to allow him to prosper in the ruck.

“Absolutely (he needs to find a home where he is valued), I feel like when the trade went through and I know they spoke about the ruck combo or playing ruck-forward. You ask anyone here. He was never going to be a forward. Never. Ever,” Howe told this masthead.

“I didn’t really see it unfolding that way in a positive manner but he’s a ruthless dominant ruck. He is an extra midfielder but he’s a ruck and I hope he gets to play that role.

Brodie Grundy’s time at Melbourne will only be one season. Picture: Getty Images

“I know he wants to be in that dominant ruck role and I know wherever he goes, as long as he’s the No. 1 ruckman he will be dominant. He will play well. Whether that’s Sydney, Geelong or Port Adelaide, I know it will be one of those. I can’t imagine it will be at the Dees.

“Seeing a quality player like that run around in the twos, you feel for him. Because he’s way too good to be playing VFL.”

Port Adelaide is also in the hunt for Geelong defender Esava Ratugolea and Essendon’s Brandon Zerk-Thatcher but Howe says Grundy rucking to the powerful Power onball unit would be a sight to behold.

“If you have got Brodie in the ruck, Rozee, (Ollie) Wines, Butters, it’s a scary combo.

“And that’s you building your team around that midfield. They could do some serious damage and I know what he brings when he plays in the ruck. Wherever he ends up I wish him all the best because he deserves to be playing. Camped down at Casey is certainly no good for him.”

The plan to have Grundy and Max Gawn share ruck duties didn’t work. Picture: Michael Klein

Former teammate Brayden Maynard said on Sunday he felt for Grundy, who did not play in the VFL side for Casey in their final and could have played his last game in red and blue colours.

“Absolutely I feel for the big fella. He’s such a great player, like I’m not too sure why he’s not playing in their team.

“They got him across there … but, hey, I’m not the selectors over there. I don’t choose the team.

“They’ve obviously got their reasons. But he’s a great player, he’s a great follow-up player, he’s a leader in the ruck.

“Hopefully he can get back out on the field as soon as possible, because he can make a real big difference to games.”

No risk: Pies declare Daicos’ Dees hopes done

- Sam Landsberger

Nick Daicos has resumed running but has run out of time to line up in Thursday night’s blockbuster against Melbourne – but appears certain to be available for week two of the finals series.

Collingwood on Sunday night said Daicos, 20, pulled up well from his first running session but the club will not risk the Brownlow Medal favourite in the qualifying final.

“He’s progressing really well, really happy with the progress so far,” Pies fitness guru Jarrod Wade said.

“He’s completed a couple of runs and pulled up really well from both of those.

“The timing is just going to be a little bit short for the first final, so we will rule him out of that one.

“We want to make sure we give him enough time to get the loads in his legs and now that he is able to run, make sure we build that load tolerance back up in there and make sure that the joint is responding each time to that load tolerance.

“We’re really confident that if required he’ll be able to play week two of the finals series.”

The Pies will take no risk with Daicos. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The All-Australian was always longer odds than his $2.80 TAB Brownlow Medal quote to make it to the line for the qualifying final.

Brother Josh Daicos declared: “I think he was just meant to be jogging – but he picked up to a little sprint to show he might be right for Thursday night”.

But that hope was short-lived and father Peter Daicos had told a TAB event last week that Nick was an unlikely starter.

“It’s only a personal thing, but I don’t think he will be playing,” Peter said.

“Had it been an elimination final, then there would have been a lot more thinking to go into rolling the dice with that.”

Former captain Scott Pendlebury backed Daicos to fire upon his return in either the semi-final or preliminary final.

“Today was his first running session. He’s been doing some gymnastic stuff and now he’s running,” Pendlebury said.

“I sort of stir him up all the time. I said, ‘You look really good - so, what one more session and you’re right to go Thursday?’”

Daicos completed his first main running session on Sunday. Picture: Tony Gough

The Magpies are set to welcome back captain Darcy Moore (hamstring), fellow defender Nathan Murphy (glute) and pressure forward Beau McCreery (suspension) against the Demons.

“(Moore’s) put in a really big block over the past three weeks, he was full training last week as well and will continue to be in full training in the lead into the game,” Wade said.

“He’s made himself available and cleared the criteria for that return from his hamstring injury.”

On Murphy, Wade said: ““We tried to get him up for the last game, but he was a late out. He was full training last week and is completing full training this week in the lead into the game”.

The winner of the opening match of the finals is guaranteed to play their entire September campaign at the MCG.

Originally published as ‘He was never going to be a forward’: Jeremy Howe and Brayden Maynard weigh in on Brodie Grundy’s time at Melbourne