Demons adamant they have no interest in trading Brodie Grundy

Melbourne ruckman Brodie Grundy’s future has become cloudy since he was sent back to the VFL. The Demons however, are clear on where the former Pie’s future lies.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 19: Brodie Grundy of the Demons celebrates a goal during the 2023 AFL Round 10 match between Yartapuulti/Port Adelaide Power and Narrm/Melbourne Demons at Adelaide Oval on May 19, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Melbourne is adamant it has no interest in trading superstar ruckman Brodie Grundy at season’s end despite dropping him to the VFL.

Demons’ coach Simon Goodwin will on Thursday say the former Magpies’ big man is going nowhere and that interested parties can call off their chase for his signature.

Port Adelaide, Geelong and Sydney Swans have all been linked to Grundy since Max Gawn led Melbourne to an epic comeback win over Brisbane Lions on Friday night.

Grundy signed a five-year deal when he departed Collingwood, tying him to the Demons until 2027. The Magpies are still paying several hundreds of thousands of dollars a year of his contract.

Melbourne has made clear in recent days it intends to honour the full length of the deal, despite ditching its ruck pair plans for at least a fortnight so Grundy can work on his forward craft for Casey Demons.

The Dees are adamant that they are keeping Brodie Grundy. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

While footy greats have said the VFL call is a clear setback for the dual All-Australian Grundy, Melbourne is confident Grundy can return to the seniors to play a key role in the club’s premiership push in coming weeks.

Privately, Demons officials have laughed off any suggestion the club would consider trading him, saying Grundy, 29, has a lot of excellent football in him alongside Gawn, 31.

Grundy moved to Melbourne to lead the ruck department with support from Gawn, who was slated to play more time forward this season.

But it hasn’t worked out with Melbourne’s forward connection its biggest headache in the mid-part of the season.

It forced Goodwin to flip the script last week, returning Gawn to the No. 1 ruck spot while Ben Brown and Jacob Van Rooyen were preferred forward, sending Grundy to the twos.

Goodwin will answer questions about Grundy at Thursday’s press conference ahead of the club’s clash against Adelaide Crows on Sunday at the MCG.