Trade HQ: The three ruckmen who could save Collingwood if Brodie Grundy heads to South Australia
He was flying for the Magpies last year, almost playing in a premiership. However, 2019 hasn’t been as encouraging for Brayden Sier. Rival clubs are watching, with the young midfielder still unsigned.
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It is the fine line every premiership contender must walk.
How do you balance a list of 30-35 quality players when only 22 can line up each week?
And while their current form has Collingwood under the microscope, at full strength the Magpies have been balancing just that.
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Throughout 2019 a host of youngsters, including Brayden Sier, Josh Daicos, Isaac Quaynor, Rupert Wills and Ben Crocker, have spent large parts of the year in the VFL.
Then there’s veterans like Tyson Goldsack, Travis Varcoe and Levi Greenwood who are on the fringes of selection each week.
While the players might be getting frustrated with the lack of opportunity, from a club perspective, keeping enough of these guys around is vital.
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And the Magpies’ current struggles are a prime example of why. Two years in a row they’ve been hit by massive injuries but have remained constants in the top four.
Rival clubs will be monitoring these players too, especially the younger ones.
Everyone wants to recruit someone they think is ready to explode with more opportunity, like a Tom Mitchell or Toby Nankervis.
My message for the Magpies in a similar position is to think very carefully about your next move. The grass isn’t always greener.
Someone like Sier, who is out of contract at the end of the season, needs to decide if he is prepared to do the hard work and force his way deep into this Collingwood side — because I think he is good enough to.
The option to go elsewhere and get guaranteed games for struggling sides might sound appealing but there is absolutely no way to replace a winning culture or the feeling of playing in front of packed houses on the game’s biggest stages.
Looking ahead, the big list concern for the Magpies is at ruck, and making sure they lock Brodie Grundy in on a long-term deal.
Mason Cox can ruck in short bursts but if Grundy moves on, that will leave a gigantic hole the American won’t be able to fill.
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THREE MAGPIES RIVAL RECRUITERS ARE WATCHING
Brayden Sier
He was Collingwood’s biggest breakout performer of 2018, but this season hasn’t gone to plan for Brayden Sier. Battling Dayne Beams for an on-ball spot and some early-season injury issues, Sier has played only four games this season and had nine touches on Friday night, after a concussion problem last week. Essendon and perhaps Carlton could perhaps offer more opportunity and more dollars, if he remains unsigned beyond this season.
Jordan De Goey
De Goey sacrificed a mountain of cash to stay at Collingwood last year when he knocked back North Melbourne’s $1 million-a-year-offer. He signed with the Pies out of loyalty, but he will deserve his full whack on his next deal when it expires at the end of next season. We all know the seven-figure offers will come again from different rivals and St Kilda desperately needs someone with his marketability, x-factor and goal scoring nous in the forward half.
Brodie Grundy
The superstar ruckman has made it clear he wants to stay at Collingwood, but the Magpies will get nervous if a blockbuster offer comes from Adelaide. From South Australia, Grundy is worth up to $1.5 million a year on the open market and clubs can get him for nothing as a free agent at the end of next season. He should command a six-year deal worth about $7 million if the Pies can afford to keep one of the top-five most influential players in the game.
THREE PLAYERS MAGPIES RECRUITERS ARE WATCHING
Reilly O’Brien
In the worst case scenario that Grundy leaves, Collingwood is going to need a new frontline ruckman. It could be a straight-swap with Adelaide big man Reilly O’Brien in the event Grundy makes the surprise call to head home to SA. North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein and Carlton tall Matthew Kreuzer are also free agents and could do the job.
Stephen Hill
Daniel Wells is likely to retire at season’s end, opening up a spot on the flank and possibly some cash depending on how some other cards fall. The Collingwood midfield is already loaded but the Pies could do with another classy ball-user who can go quick from halfback. It’s a long shot but as a free agent, it will be worth the conversation.
Jeremy Finlayson
His stocks have gone through the roof, but another emerging tall who could play back or forward could help the Pies if Ben Reid moves on at season’s end. Finlayson has become a super-damaging forward this season on a cheap deal. He was up for grabs at the end of last season but there wasn’t much interest. He’s contracted to GWS until the end of next year.
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What a find Jordan Roughead was for pick No. 75. The former Bulldog has played a key role at fullback, single-handily addressing Collingwood’s biggest weakness in exchange for a fourth-round pick. Not bad considering they also had their eye on Steven May who cost Melbourne pick No. 6. Roughead has not missed a game and could end up finishing top-12 in the Magpies’ best and fairest which is a huge tick for the list management team. Collingwood also gave up two first round picks for Dayne Beams who underwent hip surgery and is now taking time out for a mental health issue. But he was productive throughout the first half of the season averaging 25 disposals and 4.5 clearances. It wasn’t exactly the kind of impact Beams would have wanted to have but he was also trying to be more accountable as a midfielder and had a couple of run-with roles, including a job on Seb Ross against St Kilda. Importantly, the Magpies retained Tom Langdon, Darcy Moore and Jordan De Goey last season, in the face of some bigger offers from elsewhere. It will be a miracle if the Pies can keep everyone they want next time around. Alex Fasolo also left for Carlton as a free agent last year but he has struggled to shore-up a senior position.
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