How Brodie Grundy’s meticulous prep sparked a return to All-Australian form

Behind Brodie Grundy’s stunning return to All-Australian form lies an obsessive preparation regimen that has not only turned the 31-year-old into the AFL’s most dominant big man, but one of the most in-form players.

Swans ruckman Brodie Grundy has well and truly put himself back in the All-Australian conversation after a dominant six-week stretch where he was the second-highest rated player in the AFL.

After back-to-back All-Australian blazers in 2018 and 2019 when he was at Collingwood, many pundits thought that sort of form was behind the 31-year-old after a slower start to his second season in Sydney.

However, over the past two months he has been the catalyst for the Swans’ turnaround. And in the past six weeks in particular, he has almost single-handedly led their charge for an unlikely finals berth.

In each of the past six games, Grundy has been among the top-four rated players in the match – which includes being the No.1 rated player against the Power in round 15, the Dockers in round 17 and the Saints in round 18.

Grundy has been central to the Swans keeping their season alive. Picture: Mark Stewart

Throughout that period, he has averaged 21.2 disposals, 14.3 contested possessions, 7.7 clearances and 6.5 score involvements a game.

“I think a lot of people talk about the month, for five or six weeks before that month, he wasn’t beaten,” Swans coach Dean Cox said. “Not only wasn’t beaten, but actually played to his strengths and impacted the way he always has.

“His ruck work and his scrambling and intensity around the contest have been great, but I think his aerial presence, he’s starting to have a little bit more of a say in that as well, whether it’s behind the ball or when we need a bailout kick.

“He’s continually improving. He’s open to that. He dives into that and he prepares as well as he possibly can to do that.”

A MAN WITH A PLAN

Grundy has previously made no secret of how much he has enjoyed life working with Cox. Last season, when Cox was an assistant coach, Grundy stated that he had never learned more than in the 12 months he spent with the Hall of Famer.

However, that relationship has changed slightly in 2025. With Cox taking over the mantle of head coach from John Longmire, the pair remain very close and have regular conversations, but the majority of Grundy’s sessions are now spent with two former Sydney premiership players, midfield coach Ben Mathews and Mike Pyke.

Pyke, the former Canadian rugby convert, has come in as a part-time ruck consultant this season to specifically work with Grundy, Peter Ladhams and Will Green. And although the influence of different voices has had an impact on Grundy’s form, it’s his incredible work ethic that sets him apart.

Pyke has been working closely with Grundy and the fellow Swans’ ruckmen this season. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“The off-season leading into ‘25 with a shorter time frame, a few more injuries, and Brodie was no different, probably led to his slower start in his season,” Mathews said.

“But we’ve been incredibly happy with his build into 2025, to the point where he’s one of the better ruckmen in the competition in terms of output from hit-outs to hit-outs to advantage to ground balls, contested ball, he’s just been enormous.

“Most of the credit goes to him. He’s nailed his process around his weeks and how he prepares for games. He reviews really thoroughly, whether that be by himself, with myself, with Coxy. He does extra work with Mike Pyke, who comes in and should take a fair bit of the credit.

“I think that the way Brodie prepares himself in terms of his process throughout the week has really led to him being dialled in on game day to his role within the team. And then he goes about executing in a really strong manner.”

The 31-year-old has become more of a marking presence down the line on the back of intense work during the week. Picture: Mark Stewart

His superior tap work has also helped the Swans gain ascendancy around the stoppages. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

That preparation is down to a fine art for Grundy. Moments like his tap to Errol Gulden for the matchwinner against St Kilda don’t just happen spontaneously; they stem from an in-depth understanding of roles and the ability to make plays in the big moments.

“There was no whiteboard drawing of that play pre-game,” Mathews said. “It’s those guys executing in the moment on game day, and they did it really well.

“For Brodie, it starts post-game. He’s thorough with his own reviews, so he’ll generally watch most of his contests, whether it’s ruck or aerial, the next day. He does it by himself initially and takes notes on how he’s played against his opposing ruck or critiquing his aggressiveness or positioning.

“Then he starts tapping into his coaches, certainly myself once a week for a review. If he needs to see Coxy every now and then for a technical ruck craft point of view.

“Then, in main training, he works with Pykey really strongly. All the rucks go to him for a 15-20 minute period in our main session and do quite intense work, that’s helped Brodie’s contested aerial marking and positioning really strongly. He’s embraced that work, and it’s given him the confidence to attack those contests.

“Then it’s prepping for his opposing ruckman coming up. We talk about it at centre bounces or throw-ins at training, and then a line meeting the day before. He’s really vocal in those meetings because he’s done the work throughout the week.”

The former Pie and Demons man relishes the chance to test himself against the best rucks in the comp. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Several of Grundy’s teammates have reflected on the ruckman’s form by suggesting a slower start to 2025 lit a fire in the 31-year-old. However, it can’t be undersold the fact that he had to adapt on the run.

Not only did he go into opening round under an injury cloud with a knee issue, but the Swans trained the entire pre-season with Callum Mills and Errol Gulden around the midfield, only for them to drop out through injuries in the fortnight before their first clash.

“Millsy was definitely in midfield, Errol as well, we did have them pencilled in as either high forwards, mids or wings,” Matthews said. “I suppose we’ve got depth in that area of the ground, McInerney’s been positive … Jordon’s improved in that area.

“We’ve had some flexibility with that and enough numbers, but the consistency of those really good players not being there definitely hurt our cohesion as a team.”

Some of those injuries have afforded opportunities for the likes of Justin McInerney and first-round draft pick Angus Sheldrick to spend more time in the midfield. But it’s Grundy who has put the team on his back over the past two months to spark life into the Swans’ season.

He played every game for the Swans in his first season in red and white. He’s on track to do the same. But better midweek management and his incredible work ethic has him in arguably career-best form and inspiring his teammates to keep the dream alive.

“I think last year he had a strong season overall,” Mathews said. “Probably an elite first two-thirds and got a little bit tired towards the back end. Maybe we’ve managed him a bit better through weeks, but it comes down to how he’s managed himself.

“The other thing with Brods, the Sydney lifestyle is great for him. He gets away from the club and winds down in a way that keeps his mind fresh, and again, all credit to him for that.

“He really takes it on board to kickstart our midfield group and give first opportunity to our mids. Brodie doesn’t try and overplay his role or overdo things, but there’s no doubt he’s gathering the troops at times to say this is what we’re going to do and this is how we’re going to execute.

“It’s enormous when your big man has that presence and that ‘come with me’ attitude.”

Luke Parker’s homecoming: From captain to ‘enemy’ at the SCG

Premiership Swan and former captain Luke Parker can expect a “sandwich tackle” or two when he returns to the SCG in his new blue and white colours.

After a distinguished 14-year career in Sydney, Parker was traded to North Melbourne at the end of last season.

The Roos presented a deal too good to refuse for the veteran, with the Swans reluctantly, but with their blessing, allowing their former captain to move.

But all of that history will be forgotten when the 32-year-old emerges from the visitors’ change room underneath the M.A. Noble stand for the first time in his career when he takes on his former teammates.

“It always looks and feels different, but footy clubs move on pretty quickly from the personnel that has been to the new personnel,” Swans coach Dean Cox said.

“Luke was an amazing servant of this football club, one of the most respected players that have walked through the doors, so that will certainly be there.

“But he’s also a North Melbourne player now, and we need to get the job done.”

Luke Parker is set for a return to the SCG. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

It will be a similar mentality for the Swans players on the ground who shared the field with Parker as recently as last year’s grand final loss to the Lions.

But the rare chance of trying to lay a tackle on Parker is set to be too good an opportunity to pass up.

“It’s still weird seeing him in blue and white,” Will Hayward said. “But this weekend we’re obviously enemies and opposition.

“But he’s a champion of this club, someone that’s so respected within these four walls and will be forever.

“In saying that, hopefully we can get a little sandwich tackle on him with another one of the boys. Post game though, a big hug for him.”

Parker has played 16 games in his debut season for the Kangaroos, averaging 22.8 disposals, 10.6 contested possessions and 4.3 tackles per game.

He has spent far more time in the midfield than he did in his final seasons at the Swans, with Cox using the opportunity to give more minutes to the likes of Angus Sheldrick and Justin McInerney around the contest.