AFL trade news and rumours: Brodie Grundy to Sydney all but locked in

Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has all but confirmed one AFL star’s high-profile trade shift will be executed.

Brodie Grundy to Sydney all but locked in. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The trade winds are continuing to build as the AFL’s Trade Period draws closer.

A monster list of 45 players were named to be up for trade debate as the league’s silly season kicks off on October 9.

Watch every match of The 2023 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo Sports. Join now and start streaming instantly >

From big name players like Brodie Grundy and Ben McKay down to the role players, several teams are being tipped for a busy period at the trade table.

Don’t miss any of the news or rumours right here.

‘That’s done’: Grundy to Swans all but locked in

Brodie Grundy’s shift to the Sydney Swans could be one of the first deals made in October, with the ruckman set to join his third team in as many seasons.

Grundy joined Melbourne ahead of the 2023 in a high-profile switch from Collingwood however his ruck partnership alongside Max Gawn failed to eventuate.

Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire reported the big man wasn’t a part of Melbourne’s 2024 player meeting, a move that all but locks in his departure.

“Melbourne had a future planning meeting with all the players and it was mutually agreed that Brodie Grundy, no need to turn up and Brodie was happy not to. That is what my information is,” McGuire said on Footy Classified.

“No ranker, but just: ‘We‘re finishing and that’s done.’”

Grundy will be joining his third club in three seasons. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Sydney hold picks 11, 22, 30, 41 and 49 in the upcoming draft which should be more than enough assets to secure a deal.

Herald Sun reporter Sam Landsberger told Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle: “Has to be cheap from a trade point of view. He was (traded for Pick) 27 last year to Melbourne – Sydney should get him for that at an absolutely maximum.

“It should probably be less, given he needs to get out of Melbourne and he’s not in their best 23 players for the semi-final.

“That gets done seamlessly.”

Medical testing adds to Ben McKay drama

Clubs are wary of an injury issue with McKay. Photo by Michael Klein.

Ben McKay’s trade value has taken a hit after a knee issue was picked up during recent club medicals as first reported by 7News.

Four clubs had initially shown interest in luring McKay away from North Melbourne before both Sydney and Port Adelaide pulled out of the race.

It left Hawthorn and Essendon as the last two suitors fighting for the key defender’s services.

But speaking on Channel 7’s Talking Finals on Wednesday night, reporter Mitch Cleary indicated clubs were wary of a possible knee niggle in the wake of his pre-trade medical tests. Cleary stressed however it wouldn’t be major enough to change the long-term deals in front of him.

“We spoke last week about the medicals that he‘d been through at the clubs. It’s my understanding there has been some question marks raised around the medical and a potential knee (injury) and what that looks like in the long-term,” Cleary told Channel 7’s Talking Finals.

“Not enough, I don‘t think, to change or alter the deals put in front of Ben McKay, but it’s just a query as this continues to drag on and we wait an answer on Ben McKay.”