Sydney on hook for at least $700,000 of Brodie Grundy’s $1.1 million salary in 2024

Although the Pies are still forking out some of the cash for Swan Brodie Grundy, it can be revealed the ruckman’s deal is larger than first thought, placing Sydney in a dangerous cap situation.

Sydney Swans coach John Longmire with Brodie Grundy during the AFL Opening Round match between the Sydney Swans and Melbourne Demons at the SCG on March 7, 2024. Photo by Phil Hillyard (Image Supplied for Editorial Use only – Phil Hillyard **NO ON SALES** – ©Phil Hillyard )

Sydney is facing a salary cap squeeze, as it can be revealed star recruit Brodie Grundy will be paid close to $1.1 million this year in a deal bigger than first thought.

It was long reported that Grundy’s seven-year contract – signed at Collingwood in 2020 – was worth $900,000 a season.

Of that figure, it had been understood that Melbourne last year and now Sydney only needed to contribute $600,000 annually, with the Magpies picking up the rest of the tab for the life of the deal.

But it can be revealed the Swans must shell out roughly $700,000-$750,000 this season for Grundy, with the Pies covering the final sum of about $300,000.

Sydney was always adamant the trade must be heavily weighted in their favour when dealing with Melbourne because the Demons were in premiership mode and needed that sum wiped from their books.

The Swans gave up just pick 46 and a future second-rounder – which is likely to fall in the 30s – for a star ruckman who could take them to the promised land in September.

Grundy’s seven-figure salary, albeit split between Collingwood and his current club, explains why the Demons were eager to offload Grundy.

Brodie Grundy will cost the Swans plenty this season. Photo by Phil Hillyard

He was overlooked in both of their finals games last year after falling out of favour mid-season as the Demons preferred to ruck Max Gawn one-out.

It would have been diabolical for the Demons to be paying Grundy up to $750,000 and have him playing for VFL side Casey while they hunt a second flag in four years.

Grundy made a perfect start as a Swan when he outplayed Gawn in opening round.

The Swans also traded in ex-Magpie Taylor Adams, who will earn roughly $600,000 this year.

The Magpies were cleverly able to use that freed-up cash space to target Fremantle goalkicker Lachie Schultz.

It was a smart list-management move, given Adams might have acted as a roadblock to young midfielder Finlay Macrae, who looks like he will be ready to pop this season.

Sydney has been linked to North Melbourne’s Cameron Zurhaar, but a play for the free agent is considered extremely unlikely given their salary cap squeeze this year.

The Swans were the clear off-season winners as they added Grundy, Adams, James Jordon and Joel Hamling to a team that played off in the 2022 grand final.

Grundy and other veterans arrived at the Swans in the 2023 off-season. Photo by Phil Hillyard

Coach John Longmire is clearly in premiership mode and the additions could be the missing pieces for a club that is perennially in flag mode.

The targeted recruiting strategy mirrored the Magpies’ pre-premiership haul of Bobby Hill, Tom Mitchell, Dan McStay and Billy Frampton.

The Swans faced a salary cap squeeze in 2021 as Jordan Dawson and George Hewett departed. Aliir Aliir was also traded out the previous year.

While their cap is tight this year, there should also be room to move when the salary cap grows under the recently struck Collective Bargaining Agreement.

This masthead revealed last month that data expert Chris Keane had been promoted to help steer Sydney’s list management team, alongside veteran recruiter Kinnear Beatson and football boss Leon Cameron.

Keane is being groomed to take over as list manager and is regarded as one of the industry’s rising star in that space.

The star analyst appears the perfect man to help navigate the number crunching to ensure the Swans can help retain their glut of young stars.

Originally published as Sydney on hook for at least $700,000 of Brodie Grundy’s $1.1 million salary in 2024