Brodie Grundy Q&A: New Swans ruckman opens up on the move to Sydney, his struggles at Melbourne and life outside of footy
12 months after Brodie Grundy headed out the door, the Pies lifted the premiership. It’s left a sour taste in the mouth of the new Swan. Grundy sits down with LACHLAN MCKIRDY.
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Brodie Grundy’s move to Sydney is the biggest deal for the Swans in more than a decade since the arrival of Lance Franklin.
The All-Australian ruckman sits down with Lachlan McKirdy to discuss his time at Melbourne, criticism of not joining Port Adelaide and what he wants to achieve at the Swans.
Lachlan McKirdy:Welcome to Sydney, Brodie. How have the last 24 hours been since you arrived?
Brodie Grundy: It’s been crazy, man. The last couple of weeks have been physically and mentally a lot to process. I landed yesterday and (Brett) Kirky had a bit of a welcome package, which was lovely. Bread and milk and the essentials. Yeah, feeling at home now.
LM:What was the overwhelming feeling once you had signed the contract with Sydney?
BG: To be honest, it felt like that was the reality that had been in motion for some time because I had engaged with Sydney for weeks prior and felt aligned with the club and the values, and just impressed by the key powerbrokers … I already felt some weeks before that I was a Swans player in some way.
LM:A lot was made of the presentation that convinced you to come to Sydney. Was there a focus on the Bloods’ culture?
BG: The Bloods culture wasn’t explicitly unpacked. It’s spoken about a lot externally, people try and put a finger on what that is. But the little conversations that I’ve had, it appears to be the intangible culture of the place. What I have experienced, if you want to call it Bloods culture, it’s a committed group that has no ego and is very considered and wants to engage their people.
When I had the meeting with John (Longmire) and Charlie Gardiner and (Dean) Coxy and Tom Harley, you don’t have to spend too long to realise you’re talking to some pretty incredible operators.
LM:It’s been a massive 12 months for you. This time last year, what were you expecting walking into the doors at Melbourne?
BG: What was I expecting? Just probably a fresh start. The last game I played for Collingwood was Anzac Day 2022. So with my knee injury, and then I hurt my ankle, I was looking for an opportunity to just get back out there on the park. It was in the interest of both myself and the club that we went separate ways. I have incredible respect for Collingwood and what they’ve done and the proof was in the pudding some 12 months later.
My intention with moving to Melbourne was to form one of the best ruck partnerships with Max (Gawn) and try to be a part of a dynasty there. We were really ambitious about the vision at Melbourne. They had an incredible list and I still think that even though I’m no longer there. And as time went on, it became less clear and things changed and you need to be able to adapt and stay open-minded. When I heard that the Swans were interested … at that time with finals I was sitting in the stands. So there’s a team that needs me and I need them, so there was a good match.
LM:Was there a time before finals when you thought things weren’t working at Melbourne?
BG: Not so much a specific time. But you become acutely aware when you’re in the twos that for whatever reason there’s a gap in your expectation. Simon Goodwin was just doing what he thought was best for Melbourne and that’s his role. That was a challenge but it was something I wanted to apply myself to.
When I went to Melbourne, it almost was, I just moved across the road. I still was home. It was safe, as such, you know? But I think it’s a reflection of coming (to Sydney) that I take my football seriously and that I want to maximise my time in the game. Melbourne was respectful and open about me as a player wanting to do that. And I was grateful that they facilitated that trade.
LM:Was choosing to move to Sydney over staying in Melbourne or going home to Port Adelaide a chance not to be ‘safe’ and do something outside your comfort zone?
BG: Yeah. And I don’t know if safe is the right word, but it’s just leaning into the unknown. When I left Collingwood, I never saw myself playing anywhere else. So with that trade and through that period, there was a lot of uncertainty and Melbourne was a great fit at that time.
But 12 months later things change. It was a time to sit and reflect and go, ‘Okay, what do I want my next four or five years to look like?’ And not just as a person and a player, but my life outside of football and my partner’s needs. We’re still young and what a great opportunity to move to the east coast and play a sport that I love and have a different experience.
LM:Did watching Collingwood win the flag a year after you left spark any extra motivation for you?
BG: Even before Collingwood was holding up the cup, I was not playing in finals so that was enough of a kick up the arse for me to sit there internally and reflect on where I was at. It was enough of a sour taste in my mouth that I wanted to execute a trade and seek more opportunities to have an impact. Ultimately, if I can get to that spot in the Swans it will be worth it. But to say I’m going to go and be a premiership player at the Swans because the Pies did it (is too far). But there are emotions of, ‘Wow, the team I was at 12 months ago, etc. etc.’.
LM: Did this year become difficult because you weren’t out of form but the decision to not play you with Max was purely tactical?
BG: Yeah. I don’t take it personally, I try and be as pragmatic and professional as I can be. At the end of the day, Melbourne was my employer, I was there to do a job and to do it to the best of my ability.
There are going to be times like anyone when you come into work, and it’s not going your way, or you woke up on the wrong side of the bed and you’re gonna have some shit days. And I said that to Simon, I said, ‘Man, I’m gonna continue to rock up and do my best but there’s going to be times when I’ll be a bit flat’. And he was supportive during that time although things weren’t going my way.
LM: Are you looking forward to getting the ‘Melbourne showdown’ out of the way in game one?
BG: I think there will be commentary around the game. But I think that there’s a level of understanding now in the industry. I don’t have a bad word to say about Melbourne. I’d like to think that they don’t have anything bad to say about me. And it will be fun. It’s theatre, we go out and we play and people like to engage in it and turn up and watch us play football, it’s really cool.
LM:The one big question about the move: Has your mum gotten over your decision to choose Sydney over Adelaide?
BG: She’s pissed. She’s f***ing pissed. Honestly, family is a massive thing. My family is all still in Adelaide. And we were well-intentioned to have kids and set up our family there in Melbourne. When it became clear that wasn’t going to be an option, and that’s what I’m talking about these other aspects. It’s, ‘Okay, where do I want to play football?’.
I feel strongly about my alignment here at Sydney and that was a big enough push to want to come here. I told Mum and she was pretty direct in giving me that feedback. But she’s come around and now she’s sending me content on Sydney beaches and she’s loving it. She just wanted her not-so-little boy to come home. But yeah, that’s all good now.
LM:Have you got an extra bedroom for when she comes to visit?
BG: Yeah, we’ve got a bunk bed so when people come they can just be in the spare room. That will be fun.
LM:How close did the Port Adelaide move get?
BG: There was interest there the year prior and naturally, when things weren’t going well for me on-field there was interest again. My view is when you’re going through a transitional period, you need to assess all options. And that was probably a reflection of why I ended up speaking to Sydney.
We had conversations with Port and I thanked them for their interest. And I’m sure that they’ll be strong again this year. They’ve got a special place where they play, Adelaide Oval. But yeah, it wasn’t to be.
LM:There was a suggestion that Port had potentially “dodged a bullet” by not landing your signature. What was that like to hear at the time?
BG: Without getting too specific, what we need to try and do, whether it’s in the media or just the football landscape as a whole, is expand the lens through which we view things. To say that Port Adelaide has dodged a bullet by not recruiting Brodie Grundy is quite an extreme statement. I think that’s a really, really extreme statement. On reflection, that comment may have been about other lifestyle factors, and I think that’s quite disappointing that we don’t consider the lifestyle factors in decisions that people make when they’re looking for work, particularly given the mental health challenges that players and people in society face. I think we need to destigmatise those sorts of things and I don’t think that those comments help contribute to that space.
LM: You’re unapologetically passionate about your life outside of footy, particularly your studies?
BG: I’ve got one unit left of my MBA at Melbourne Business School, so I’ll be doing that online in January. And that’s probably just one of the frustrating things, even through my best years, I would spend probably more time at Uni.
Society is changing so much and young people are coming in and they do incredible things. We need to be open to that and encourage change. I don’t apologise for having interests outside of the game. It has been a big part of my identity away from the game that’s helped me through adversity.
LM:Is working with the young Sydney players one of the most exciting parts about the move?
BG: Definitely. I want to go on record and say, the sole reason I came to Sydney was because of an alignment to the football program and the club and the people. And then there are second, third-order effects that are appealing.
I have a lot of experience on and off the field that I want to impart. I’m probably a personality that has traditionally liked to sit back on the side and ask questions and probably not be front and centre. I think this move will challenge me to step up a little bit and I’m looking forward to evolving in that space.
LM:You must be looking forward to doing that with a good mate in Taylor Adams?
BG: Yeah, I had no idea that he was coming. I had committed to Sydney, then one day I was going for a swim and saw some articles but didn’t think much of it. And then that afternoon, he called me and said, ‘Are we on, big fella?’. And I said it seems that way. Talking about leadership, he’s been playing for a long time, and I think he’s looking forward to the opportunity as well to contribute both on and off the field. We have some good chemistry and I’m looking forward to getting back to my best work there with him.
LM: After signing a multi-year deal with the Swans, what do you want to achieve in Sydney?
BG: Could you be a bit more specific?
LM: Will you define success with this move on winning premierships or just wanting to play your best footy?
BG: That’s a good question. I have an ongoing thing with Anthony Rocca, ‘What is success?’. And it has evolved and changed over time.
Success for me would be just enjoying it. Loving what I’m doing and enjoying coming to work every day. And at the moment, I feel like that’s set up perfectly for me to do that. There are obviously on-field aspirations, to be there on the last day and win a premiership is a given. We’ll turn over every single rock, but there are so many little moments along the way that you can win and have influence.
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