Simon Goodwin adamant Brodie Grundy has a future at Melbourne

Brodie Grundy is set for another week in the VFL but his Melbourne coach has a message for the critics of the club’s plans for him.

Brodie Grundys stint in the VFL has been extended another week. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin insists he’s not trying to turn Brodie Grundy into a permanent forward and slammed the “hysteria” about the ruckman’s future at the club.

Brought to the club to form a one-two combination with Melbourne captain Max Gawn, Grundy was axed last week and sent to the VFL with an edict to work on his forward craft as part of his dual role.

In the absence of Grundy, Gawn produced a stunning effort to help lift Melbourne to a thrilling one-point come-from-behind win at the MCG over Brisbane, producing the highest rating game for any player in four years.

It moved Grundy’s former coach at Collingwood, Nathan Buckley, to call the situation “muddy and murky” and question whether Grundy could remain at Melbourne because he’s not a forward and “never will be”.

Goodwin confirmed on Thursday that Grundy would spend another week at VFL level but slammed talk the Demons were abandoning plans for the tag-team ruck duo as part of their premiership campaign.

Brodie Grundy celebrates after kicking a goal against Collingwood. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“We’re trying to increase the combination forward of the ball. We’re not trying to turn Brodie Grundy into a forward – let’s be really clear on that,” Goodwin said.

“We’re trying to turn this ruck combination into a dominant force that will help us in the ruck but also help us ahead of the ball.

“On the back of that hysteria, I’ve heard him playing as a permanent forward, I’ve heard we’re trying to trade him. That’s not the case.

“We love Brodie Grundy, we think this is going to be a dominant force and we’re going to keep working to do it.”

Goodwin said there was no set timeline on how long Grundy would spend in the VFL and his return to the AFL line-up was not dependent on his output as a forward.

But goalkicking will be a big part of both Grundy and Gawn’s roles going forward.

“We see Brodie and Max playing 10 minutes a quarter forward of the ball,” he said.

“But how we get that extra exposure is at VFL level, so he’ll play as a permanent forward again this week (in the VFL).

Simon Goodwin has banished Grundy to the VFL. Picture: Michael Klein

“We know what he can do in the ruck. We‘re trying to increase his ability to impact forward of the ball.”

Melbourne booted their best score in almost three months, kicking 16 goals against the Lions without Grundy and star forward Bailey Fritsch.

Goodwin said defender Harrison Petty, who was subbed out of the win over Brisbane with rib soreness, was no certainty to face Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday.

“On the first sightings in the early part of the week, he’s progressing in the right direction,” Goodwin said.