AFL 2022: Collingwood trades All-Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy to Melbourne in high-profile swap
Brodie Grundy is finally a Demon after a week-long standoff between Collingwood and Melbourne on the ruckman’s trade value.
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Melbourne has its All-Australian ruck pairing, with the Demons securing Collingwood star Brodie Grundy for the bargain price of pick 27.
A day after Melbourne traded Luke Jackson to Fremantle for a package including two first-round selections, Max Gawn has a new ruck partner who was once his major rival.
Grundy still has five years to run on the monster contract he signed before the 2020 season after making consecutive All-Australian teams and winning back-to-back Copeland Trophy awards.
But Magpies list boss Graham Wright wasn’t at the club when the 28-year-old signed his deal and decided his money could be better spent elsewhere.
Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox carried the ruck load this past season when knee and ankle injuries restricted Grundy to only six matches.
They were keen to get more than pick 27 out of the Demons, including a proposal for them to also send pick 13 to Collingwood in return for Grundy and No.16 but Melbourne refused to do that.
“We are ecstatic to have secured the services of Brodie. It’s not often you can bring such a talented player into the club,” Demons list manager Tim Lamb said.
“Brodie has had an outstanding career to date, and is a proven finals performer. We have seen from afar what he is capable of.”
Greater Western Sydney and Geelong were among Grundy’s suitors, as well as Port Adelaide, but he will instead form the most credentialed ruck tandem in the AFL.
Wright thanked Grundy for his 177-game contribution to Collingwood across a decade.
“Brodie has been an outstanding club person in his time with Collingwood and should be commended for his professionalism and the support he’s shown to his teammates despite facing his own injury challenges this season,” Wright said.
“We have remained in open and honest discussions with Brodie for some time now around his future – he is a quality person and leaves our football program with everyone wishing him all the very best.
“While decision-making relating to list management can be difficult; we have a duty to make decisions that best position our club moving forward.”
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Originally published as AFL 2022: Collingwood trades All-Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy to Melbourne in high-profile swap
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