Brodie Grundy close to signing new three-year deal with Collingwood

BRODIE Grundy won’t be part of any Collingwood bid for Adelaide defender Jake Lever with the Magpies ruckman set to recommit to the club within the next week.

Brodie Grundy is close to inking a new three-year deal with Collingwood. Picture: AAP

COLLINGWOOD ruckman Brodie Grundy is set to recommit to the club despite the ongoing uncertainty around the coaching set-up next season.

The Herald Sun understands the South Australian will sign a three-year contract extension, locking him in at the Magpies until the end of 2020.

The deal is believed to be worth about $625,000 a year, making Grundy one of the league’s highest-paid ruckmen as he rounds out a career-best season.

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The outstanding big man is one of the frontrunners to win the All-Australian ruck position along with Port Adelaide jet Paddy Ryder.

Grundy has not missed a game this season and is one of the leading contenders to win the club’s best and fairest award, after finishing fourth last year.

Grundy’s manager Robbie D’Orazio and Collingwood list chief Derek Hine are believed to be in the final stages of contract negotiations.

It is expected to be finalised within the next week.

Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy is expected to re-sign soon. Picture: AAP

The agreement will be a major coup for Collingwood with senior coach Nathan Buckley still fighting to keep his job beyond this season.

The crucial signature means Grundy, 23, will not be part of Collingwood’s plans to poach Adelaide defender Jake Lever.

The Magpies have confirmed they have strong interest in the intercepting backman but have ruled Grundy off-limits in any deal.

Collingwood could also make another strong play at Greater Western Sydney small forward Devon Smith, who remains out of contract.

Brodie Grundy flies for a mark against the Power in Round 14. Picture: AAP

Smith, who has close links with Magpies Taylor Adams and Adam Treloar, may have to take a pay cut to stay at the Giants, or seek a fresh opportunity at Collingwood or Geelong.

Grundy has maintained confidence all season he would recommit to the Magpies, after the club took him with the bargain-priced No. 18 pick in the 2012 national draft.

Highly-rated for his follow-up work around the ground, the 203cm powerhouse has thrived in the No.1 ruck role this season.

He is rated elite for disposals (18 per game), contested possessions (10), uncontested possessions (9) and clearances (4) this season, according to Champion Data.

Grundy’s hit-out to advantage ratio of 13.5 per cent sits level with the league average. Importantly, the new contract means he will continue to help lead Collingwood’s blue-chip midfield throughout the prime years of his career.

Collingwood has not yet made a decision on Buckley’s future and could conduct a sweeping overhaul of its assistant coaching ranks to support him over another two-year term.

The players have made clear they remain fully supportive of Buckley ahead of crucial final-season games against North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, Geelong and Melbourne.