AFL news: Demons coach Simon Goodwin has no issue with Brodie Grundy’s meeting with Port Adelaide
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has addressed the meeting between contracted Brodie Grundy and Port Adelaide during the Demons’ finals campaign.
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Melbourne is happy for Brodie Grundy to meet with opposition clubs during the finals campaign and coach Simon Goodwin says he doesn’t need to sit down to discuss his failed recruit taking himself to market.
Goodwin was coy about whether Grundy was in the frame to play Collingwood in Thursday’s qualifying final but with veteran Tom McDonald locked in to return, a Grundy recall is unlikely.
Grundy met with Port Adelaide last week when stars Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and coach Ken Hinkley were in Melbourne for the AFL Awards night.
The ex-Pie star has had a torrid back half of the season, dropped to the VFL after the experiment of playing alongside Max Gawn failed.
The Demons could play the Power as soon as the preliminary final but Goodwin said he had no concerns about Grundy meeting with a finals side during September and said the club was aware he was talking to other teams.
Sydney has been heavily mooted as another top-eight club interested in the All-Australian.
“No issue from my end, I think we are a mature industry now,” Goodwin said.
“There are probably 50 players from across the league that are meeting with other clubs at this time of the year and it is pretty commonplace in the industry these days.
“Brodie is a professional footballer, he is a really mature player and has really focused in on performance. He has really loved the Melbourne footy club and he knows he has a four-year contract and he knows he is going to keep pushing this year to play finals footy.”
Goodwin said he didn’t expect Grundy to come to him to flag his discussions with other clubs.
“It’s certainly not something I am giving a lot of energy to, in terms of those conversations,” the coach said.
“We’re across what is going on around there, our list manager and the (player) mangers are involved in those discussions and we understand what is going on.”
MCDONALD SET FOR FINALS RECALL IN DEMONS FORWARD RESHUFFLE
- Jay Clark
Melbourne key forward Tom McDonald is on track to play his first game in almost four months in the Demons’ blockbuster qualifying final against Collingwood on Thursday night.
McDonald was overlooked for selection in the Demons’ two finals last year due to a foot problem and underwent surgery mid-year due to a serious ankle injury.
But the premiership forward looms as the ideal replacement for ACL victim Jake Melksham after bagging five goals in the VFL last week to press his claims for AFL selection against Collingwood.
He is expected to partner Bayley Fritsch, who has received the all-clear from a foot complaint, and young colt goalkicker Jacob van Rooyen in attack for the clash against the Magpies.
McDonald, 30, made a strong case at main training on Monday, helping cast aside any doubts on his fitness, and will have a light run with the team on Wednesday at Gosch’s Paddock.
If he can emerge unscathed from the captain’s run McDonald looks set to get the nod almost 12 months since he watched on in the finals as Melbourne went down to Sydney Swans and Brisbane in straight sets.
But his timing could be perfect this time around as McDonald attempts to flip the selection script, building solidly at training and at VFL level over the past month.
His return would be a considerable boost for the Demons, who are on the hunt for another goalkicker after Melksham suffered a heartbreaking ACL tear in its final-round win over the Swans.
Like Melksham, McDonald offers mobility and marking power as Melbourne continues with a more dynamic forward combination since its round 16 loss to GWS Giants prompted a rejig.
It means McDonald would get the call ahead of veteran forward Ben Brown, who is still battling knee soreness, and former Collingwood ruck Brodie Grundy.
Grundy is expected to pursue a trade at season’s end, with Port Adelaide considered the frontrunner ahead of Sydney Swans.
But Melbourne will only go ahead with a trade on Grundy if it can find a suitable ruck replacement to play a back-up role to superstar captain Max Gawn.
Grundy will watch his current and former team battle it out on Thursday night for a berth in the preliminary final after being told he and Gawn could work together as a ruck tandem in 2023.
The McDonald call is the club’s biggest selection issue although coach Simon Goodwin will also weigh-up whether to bring back hard-nosed veteran defender Michael Hibberd.
Hibberd, who missed the win over the Swans due to concussion, could be slated for a role on superstar Collingwood goal kicker Jamie Elliott.
Elliott, who has booted 38 majors for the season, booted seven goals in his two games against Melbourne last year.
Hibberd, 33, could replace 194cm defender Daniel Turner in expected wet conditions or substitute Bailey Laurie for the shut down role on Elliott in the qualifying final.
Showers are forecast for the clash which is expected to attract a crowd of 94,000 at the MCG.
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Originally published as AFL news: Demons coach Simon Goodwin has no issue with Brodie Grundy’s meeting with Port Adelaide
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