Collingwood star Brodie Grundy backs calls for more State of Origin football
It’s the feel-good game for charity that’s got people talking — should there be more State of Origin football in the future? Collingwood star and “Vic-hater” Brodie Grundy says yes.
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Brodie Grundy has “no doubt” that regular State of Origin fixtures would be supported by players.
The All-Australian ruck — who will play for the All Stars in tomorrow night’s bushfire relief clash with Victoria — declared he would love nothing more than to represent his home state of South Australia in a pure form of State of Origin football.
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Grundy will be joined by Carlton star Eddie Betts, who was parachuted into the All Stars team yesterday following the withdrawal of Lions skipper Dayne Zorko, who is suffering hamstring tightness.
And he said he would definitely be interested in exploring future Origin opportunities.
“There’s been a massive groundswell from the broader community. I’m a fan just as much as anybody else of the game, and what you read and what you hear is the commentary around it being a permanent thing,” Grundy said.
“Obviously it’s a challenge with the fixturing and the clubs wanting to have their players on a tight leash, so for me, I’d love to be involved in the future whether it’s the All Stars … I’d love to wear a South Australian guernsey, that’s for sure.
“I’ve still got my Under 18 SA guernsey framed up at my house. It’s something that’s close to me, and although it’s not an SA guernsey this time, the broader cause and being involved in an Allies team is still going to be really cool.”
Grundy, 25, admits his younger self held more animosity towards Victoria, but said “I’m becoming more and more Victorian, unfortunately, as I’ve settled in”.
And while tomorrow night’s match is in the spirit of fundraising, he wants nothing more than to notch a victory.
“Victoria has always bullied the smaller states, so it’d be nice to get one back,” he said.
The two teams will train on Marvel Stadium on Thursday afternoon for the first time, with Grundy excited at the prospect of seeing “how guys like (Nat) Fyfe and (Patrick) Cripps orchestrate the midfield”.
“Cripps spends a lot of time ‘sharking’ my hits, so it’ll be nice to actually hit it to him this week,” he laughed.
While he said it would be “projecting pretty far” to suggest he would rally for State of Origin in the next collective bargaining agreement negotiations, tomorrow night is a “timely opportunity” to consider options.
“It’s a fine balance. Players give up their leave time, which they’re entitled to take, but you’ve got the amazing opportunity to play for your state,” he said.
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“It’s going to be a juggling act, but the broader community … we hear you guys, that you guys want it. Players are definitely involved and it’s really important on Friday to make sure it’s really well-received, goes smoothly and I think that will be a really timely opportunity to look at what it looks like going forward.”
The Collingwood star said his anticipation to do something for bushfire-affected communities had only been heightened by a trip to Kangaroo Island last weekend, where he was particularly shocked by “fire-frosted” trees that become stuck where they have burned.
“That was a holiday destination for our family many times growing up, and to be able to get back there and experience what it’s been like for the community over on Kangaroo Island was really significant and really brought it to light,” he said.
“It’s easy to be sitting in your comfortable loungeroom and watch it, but until you’re out there and you can taste the ash in the air and see the regrowth starting to come through, it really starts to bring it home. To come through into this week and what it’s all about, it’s really significant and I’m really honoured to be a part of it.
“It’s scary, it’s really scary, to be able to go through there and see what people would have had to face.”
